Police probe pro-Hong Kong rally in KL

Police have opened an investigation paper on the "929 Global Anti-Totalitarianism" rally held in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday.

Attended by 70 people, it was held to show solidarity with the protest against the Hong Kong extradition bill.

However, police said organisers had failed to notify authorities on the rally.

Under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, organisers must give 10-day notification to the authorities.

"We have opened up an investigation paper and will summon the organisers in near future," Dang Wangi CID police chief Fahmi Visuvanathan told Malaysiakini.

The venue for the rally was initially planned to be held at a space along Jalan Belfield near the Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

The rally participants changed the venue to an open-air carpark nearby after a police report was lodged by KLSCAH executive director Lee Shok Jing the night before, clarifying that the rally had nothing to do with the organisation.

Chen Chen from the China Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had condemned the organisers and participants, saying they “failed to distinguish right from wrong, following mindlessly, and being self-righteous about the true meaning of democracy and freedom."

The Hong Kong extradition bill protest was started in June. Over a million people took to the streets and went against the controversial bill.

In the past three months, the protests descended into bloodshed and chaos, and the energy of the movement has kept rising.

The Global Solidarity with Hong Kong movement has seen about 40 rallies in cities across the world, spread via social media using hashtags such as #929GlobalAntiTotalitarianism and #StandWithHongKong.

There were three rallies held in Malaysia with various civil society organisations, including Bersih, expressing their support. - Mkini