LIVE REPORTS
11.15am: Masjid India - A crowd grows outside the KLSE building.
11.15am: Masjid Negara - Four police trucks depart the area.
11.13am: Jalan P Ramlee - The Himpunan Hijau 3.0 group from KLCC is marching towards Jalan Raja Chulan, chanting Bersih slogans while some direct traffic.
11.15am: Masjid Negara - Four police trucks depart the area.
11.13am: Jalan P Ramlee - The Himpunan Hijau 3.0 group from KLCC is marching towards Jalan Raja Chulan, chanting Bersih slogans while some direct traffic.
The crowd in the city centre has now reached 20,000.
10.55am: Masjid Negara - PAS deputy chief Mohamad Sabu arrives at Masjid Negara and he is given a hero's welcome by the crowd.
10.54am: KLCC - Two individuals arrested after a crowd, estimated at 10,000, began marching towards Masjid Jamek.
They break through a wall of police at Jalan Ampang.
10.53am: Masjid India - Unit Amal members spearhead some 5,000 protestors to charge through a police human barricade at the intersection outside Public Bank, near the north end of the Dataran.
10.54am: KLCC - Two individuals arrested after a crowd, estimated at 10,000, began marching towards Masjid Jamek.
They break through a wall of police at Jalan Ampang.
10.53am: Masjid India - Unit Amal members spearhead some 5,000 protestors to charge through a police human barricade at the intersection outside Public Bank, near the north end of the Dataran.
10.51am: Three hours before the Bersih 3.0 rally at 2pm, there are already an estimated 15,000 protestors in different parts of the city center in Kuala Lumpur.
KLCC - 5,000
Jalan Sultan - 4,000
Masjid Jamek - 2,000
Masjid Negara - 1,000
Near Dataran Merdeka - 3,000
KLCC - 5,000
Jalan Sultan - 4,000
Masjid Jamek - 2,000
Masjid Negara - 1,000
Near Dataran Merdeka - 3,000
10.50am: Dataran Merdeka - A multi-racial crowd outside the Bar Council headquarters are sloganeering and singing "Rasa sayang".
10.50am: Pasar Seni - Ambiga takes the stage as the nearly 600 crowd cheer her on. She leads them in chanting, "Bersih! Bersih!" as everyone raises their hands to make the number three sign in reference to Bersih 3.0.
Addressing members of the press, the lawyer appears upbeat about today's turnout.
"I see many people are still coming. The spirit is fantastic; even last night people gathered\. The atmosphere is electric, I couldn't ask for more.
"I thank everybody, the rakyat, for coming together to uphold this noble cause for free and fair elections."
She reiterated that if the police does not permit protesters to enter Dataran Merdeka later, the protestors will just sit where they are to protest.
Addressing members of the press, the lawyer appears upbeat about today's turnout.
"I see many people are still coming. The spirit is fantastic; even last night people gathered\. The atmosphere is electric, I couldn't ask for more.
"I thank everybody, the rakyat, for coming together to uphold this noble cause for free and fair elections."
She reiterated that if the police does not permit protesters to enter Dataran Merdeka later, the protestors will just sit where they are to protest.
10.45am: Pasar Seni - The Occupy Dataran movement has set up a camp in front of Bar Council headquarters as a sign of protest, with some of their members wearing the vendetta mask.
A helicopter is seen circling above.
A helicopter is seen circling above.
10:44am: Dataran Merdeka - At the Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman intersection, another wheelchair-bound protestor draws attention.
The 56-year-old lady, who wants to known only as Ani, said she was disabled after suffering a stroke. She said she arrived at 4am and was here to "uphold justice".
"If the FRU chase me, I won't run. I will ask them to carry me up (the polic truck) and carry me into the lock up.
The 56-year-old lady, who wants to known only as Ani, said she was disabled after suffering a stroke. She said she arrived at 4am and was here to "uphold justice".
"If the FRU chase me, I won't run. I will ask them to carry me up (the polic truck) and carry me into the lock up.
10.40am: Masjid Negara - Ambiga Sreenevasan arrives and is seen walking towards Pasar Seni from the old train station.
10.40am: KLCC - The Himpunan Hijau 3.0 crowd begins to hit the streets.
Committee chairperson Wong Tack and the committee members lead the 5,000-strong crowd on a march along Jln Ampang towards the Australian High Commission.
Committee chairperson Wong Tack and the committee members lead the 5,000-strong crowd on a march along Jln Ampang towards the Australian High Commission.
10.34am: So far, no ‘red helmet’ FRU (riot police) personnel are seen in the city centre. Also there appeared that no water cannon trucks deployed for now.
10.31am: Tweet from PDRM - police found eight objects suspected to be explosives outside Menara Dayabumi.
Meanwhile, KL police announced in its Facebook that they have closed 58 roads in KL city from 6am onwards until further notice.
10.31am: Tweet from PDRM - police found eight objects suspected to be explosives outside Menara Dayabumi.
Meanwhile, KL police announced in its Facebook that they have closed 58 roads in KL city from 6am onwards until further notice.
10.30am: Brickfields - The crowd here is estimated to be at 200 people after they disembarked from several busses.
Seri Setia state assemblymperson Nik Nazmi Nik Mat reminded the crowd that they are for a peaceful protest.
"Police won't be able to do anything on us because we can easily outnumber them," he said.
The crowd at the other side of the road has started chanting: "Asal bukan umno (Anything but Umno)"
Seri Setia state assemblymperson Nik Nazmi Nik Mat reminded the crowd that they are for a peaceful protest.
"Police won't be able to do anything on us because we can easily outnumber them," he said.
The crowd at the other side of the road has started chanting: "Asal bukan umno (Anything but Umno)"
10.20am: Jalan Sultan - A music video shoot, directed by Pete Teo, is taking place outside the Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association.
The title of the video is "Rasa sayang, Jalan Sultan". About 400 protestors are taking part in the shoot, singing the chorus.
The title of the video is "Rasa sayang, Jalan Sultan". About 400 protestors are taking part in the shoot, singing the chorus.
10.20am: Masjid Negara - About 100 people are listening to impromptu speeches being given in the compounds of the mosque.
10.19am: Brickfields - Protestors have started distribute balloons in the shape of popular computer game Angry Birds.
10.19am: Brickfields - Protestors have started distribute balloons in the shape of popular computer game Angry Birds.
10.16am: Dataran Merdeka - The police form human wall near the Bar Council headquarters which has become a tourist spot of sorts with many people taking photographs.
10.15am: Bangsar - Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said just left the Bangsar LRT station in a packed train. As he entered the coach, fellow passengers aplauded.
10.05am: Brickfields - Around 50 protestors sporting Bersih t-shirts has convened outside Old Town Coffee Shop at Jalan Thambypillai.
According to some participants, they either stayed overnight at the nearby hotels or followed the crowd when they arrived at KL Sentral.
"I don't know how to go about in Brickfiedls actually. I only follow the others when I come out from train station," said Kelly Tui.
According to some participants, they either stayed overnight at the nearby hotels or followed the crowd when they arrived at KL Sentral.
"I don't know how to go about in Brickfiedls actually. I only follow the others when I come out from train station," said Kelly Tui.
10.03am: Jalan Tun Perak - A carnival atmosphere permeates the rally, with one participant performing magic acts to cheer from the crowd at the Jalan Parliament-Jalan TAR intersection.
The crowd sitting by the roadside has swollen to 2,000, with some shouting “sit down” and “police, sit down”.
10.03am: KLCC - Organisers distribute anti-Lynas leaflets to the crowd. One depicts Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob with the words ‘Pahang Hitler’.
Most are dressed in the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 trademark green T-shirt with a yellow headband, or the yellow Bersih T-shirt with a green headband.
The 2,000 crowd are chanting slogans while the police look on.
10.04am: Pasar Seni - There are two gathering points here, the Pasar Seni complex and Lebuh Pasar Besar.
Pasar Seni is seeing roughly 300 rallyers while at Lebuh Pasar Besar, the crowd grows to 200. Occupy Dataran activists brief the crowd on what to do in case of arrests.
A barricade with barbed wire has been set up across the bridge near the Bar Council headquarters to bar entry into Dataran. A multi-ethnic group of 200 are gathered there.
Spirits rise and the crowd cheers when a group of PAS supporters open up their Bersih banner in front of the police.
They shout, "Hidup Bersih,” “Hancur Umno," and "Turun Najib." (Long live Bersih, Down with Umno and Najib, step down)
The crowd sitting by the roadside has swollen to 2,000, with some shouting “sit down” and “police, sit down”.
10.03am: KLCC - Organisers distribute anti-Lynas leaflets to the crowd. One depicts Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob with the words ‘Pahang Hitler’.
Most are dressed in the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 trademark green T-shirt with a yellow headband, or the yellow Bersih T-shirt with a green headband.
The 2,000 crowd are chanting slogans while the police look on.
10.04am: Pasar Seni - There are two gathering points here, the Pasar Seni complex and Lebuh Pasar Besar.
Pasar Seni is seeing roughly 300 rallyers while at Lebuh Pasar Besar, the crowd grows to 200. Occupy Dataran activists brief the crowd on what to do in case of arrests.
A barricade with barbed wire has been set up across the bridge near the Bar Council headquarters to bar entry into Dataran. A multi-ethnic group of 200 are gathered there.
Spirits rise and the crowd cheers when a group of PAS supporters open up their Bersih banner in front of the police.
They shout, "Hidup Bersih,” “Hancur Umno," and "Turun Najib." (Long live Bersih, Down with Umno and Najib, step down)
10.00am: Jalan Sultan - Near the Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, we meet wheel-chair bound Lee Kwan Leong, who says he and ten other disabled persons will join the rally.
Lee, 51 , make handicrafts for a living. He says says this is his first time he is joining the demonstration and he hoped the government will save Jalan Sultan where he spent his childhood. He is also supportive of the anti-Lynas and Bersih cause.
Lee says he is not afraid of tear gas and water cannons.
"If our group been attacked, I will urge my friends to flee, while I will keep to the sidelines," says Lee, stressing that he can take care of himself.
Lee, 51 , make handicrafts for a living. He says says this is his first time he is joining the demonstration and he hoped the government will save Jalan Sultan where he spent his childhood. He is also supportive of the anti-Lynas and Bersih cause.
Lee says he is not afraid of tear gas and water cannons.
"If our group been attacked, I will urge my friends to flee, while I will keep to the sidelines," says Lee, stressing that he can take care of himself.
9.57am: Central Market - A small crowd is busy studying a copy of the court order pasted on a lamp pole. The court order bars key Bersih steering committee memebrs from entering Dataran Merdeka.
9.48am: Dataran Merdeka - The Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman intersection is a major gathering point with a crowd of about 3,000 people who are singing and chanting slogans.
There are hundreds of police but no sign of the FRU.
There are hundreds of police but no sign of the FRU.
9.45am: Jalan Sultan - At a KK mini-market, a general practitioner Dr Wong Fort Ping, 57, began singing the national anthem on his own, but hundreds joined in.
Wong, who later told the crowd that he had joined the first two Bersih rallies and quoted former US president John F Kennedy.
Wong, who later told the crowd that he had joined the first two Bersih rallies and quoted former US president John F Kennedy.
9:44am: Jalan Tun Perak - A man, whose name is Saw, sings in front of the crowd, receiving wild cheers.
There are about 500 protestors at the intersection of Jalan TAR-Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Raja-Jalan Parliament.
A disabled man is seen giving speech in front of another group of protesters sitting near the intersection.
9.42am - Pasar Seni: 60 police officers have formed a line across Leboh Pudu, preventing motorists from entering Medan Pasar and Jalan Lebuh Pasar. Protestors on foot however are allowed to pass.
9.37am: KLCC - The Bukit Koman anti-cyanide committee members from Raub, Pahang are putting the banners and posters to voice their dissatisfaction over the Australian gold mining company which uses cyanide to extract gold.
The crowd size at KLCC had grown to 1,000 and their emotion is getting higher and higher.
The crowd size at KLCC had grown to 1,000 and their emotion is getting higher and higher.
9.36am: Jalan Sultan - A group of approximately 50 police personnel form a human barricade at Jalan Sultan and Jalan Hang Jebat to stop public from heading to Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association where the shooting for a music video for the 'Protect the Jalan Sultan' theme song is take place 10am, directed by Pete Teo.
9.35am: Masjid Negara - Road heading to Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin from Jalan Travers closed.
There are about 500 protesters gathered here along with PAS Unit Amal who are cladded in maroon. More are coming from the nearby KTM railway station to join them.
About 50 police officers and a police truck are seen.
9.32am: Public transport update - Tweets from RapidKL, service is normal, all roads leading to KL city are closed.
"Buses will drop passengers at LRT stations nearest to KL city. No buses will go into KL city."
9.25am: Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) - Hundreds of bersih supporters has been gathered at the back lane of Jalan TAR near Masjid India, many of them wearing Bersih or yellow T-shirts.
There a group of young people who have set up a stall here to sell Bersih and 'Free Education' T-shirts.
Jalan TAR and Jalan Parliament are closed by the police. While about 100 police officers form a human wall to barricade Jalan TAR, in front of Sogo, the protestors are able to evade the police by using the back lanes to go to Masjid India and Jalan Tun Perak.
People are hanging around, sitting in front of shop and chatting while waiting for the protest to begin.
There a group of young people who have set up a stall here to sell Bersih and 'Free Education' T-shirts.
Jalan TAR and Jalan Parliament are closed by the police. While about 100 police officers form a human wall to barricade Jalan TAR, in front of Sogo, the protestors are able to evade the police by using the back lanes to go to Masjid India and Jalan Tun Perak.
People are hanging around, sitting in front of shop and chatting while waiting for the protest to begin.
9.21am: Jalan Tun Perak - An estimated 1,000 people are gathering along the empty road which has been closed by the police.
Many are sitting along the five-foot sidewalk and standing in the middle of the road.
920am: Masjid Jamek LRT - A group of Bersih protesters, clad in yellow, are gathering outside the LRT station, some are sitting by the roadside.
The road leading to Jalan Tun Perak and Bangkok Bank is closed to all vehicles. There are about 50 police personnel in the area, backed by three police trucks and a van.
9.18am: Pasar Seni - Some 100 police officers have lined behind the barricade on Lebuh Pasar Besar.
The crowd in front of the roadblock has swelled to close to 100. They are watching activists staging a musical performance.
9.16am: Jalan Petaling - At the entrance of Lok Ann hotel, a girl clad in Bersih T-shirt gives flowers to a police officer name Yap, urging him to support Bersih. He keeps shaking his head and says "buyao, buyao" ('no' in Mandarin), but the crowd and other police officers applaud.
The police officers are seen guarding a few key locations, including the Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association at the junction of Jalan Sultan and Hang Jebat.
The police officers are seen guarding a few key locations, including the Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association at the junction of Jalan Sultan and Hang Jebat.
9.15am: KLCC - The entrance of KLCC facing the Public Bank building and the main entrance to the Twin Towers are sealed with steel bars.
Indera Mahkota MCA Youth chief David Choi, despite facing disciplinary action in the party for his support for Himpunan Hijau, is seen among the crowd.
The Indera Mahkota MCA Youth division is the only party division which strongly oppose the controversial Lynas rare earth plant which located in Gebeng, Pahang.
The protesters, which are now 500-strong after another group which was in the KLCC park joined them, started chanting "Stop Lynas".
Indera Mahkota MCA Youth chief David Choi, despite facing disciplinary action in the party for his support for Himpunan Hijau, is seen among the crowd.
The Indera Mahkota MCA Youth division is the only party division which strongly oppose the controversial Lynas rare earth plant which located in Gebeng, Pahang.
The protesters, which are now 500-strong after another group which was in the KLCC park joined them, started chanting "Stop Lynas".
About 100 police officers form a human wall to prevent the crowd from getting near to the entrance.
8.56am: Pasar Seni - A pocket of some 40 yellow-clad Bersih supporters are camped in front of a roadblock on Jalan Lebuh Besar in front of Bar Council's building. They have decorated the barb wires and barricades with Bersih, anti-Lynas and Occupy Dataran banners.
8.51am: Police set up roadblock at Jalan Duta heading into Jalan Parlimen - all cars are stopped from entering Jalan Parlimen.
Police also erected a roadblock at the junction of MRR1 and Jalan Sultan Salahuddin. No vehicles allowed to use this road to go into the city centre.
8.48am: Sogo shopping complex - The intersection in front of Sogo is closed. Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, the main road leading to Dataran Merdeka, is blocked. No traffic is allowed to pass.
There are about 150 police personnel in the area, along with two police trucks. The police form a human wall in front of Sogo.
8.37am: Pasar Seni - Pockets of yellow clad people scattered around, many having breakfast while others are just milling around, numbering about 50.
Three busloads and two truckloads with about 200 police officers arrive in the shopping complex.
Three busloads and two truckloads with about 200 police officers arrive in the shopping complex.
8.32am: KLCC - There are about 100 Himpunan Hijau 3.0 protesters gathered at the KLCC entrance, opposite Avenue K.
KLCC is the gathering point for the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 rally before they march to Masjid Jamek at noon to join Bersih 3.0. Most of those in the crowd are wearing the trademark Himpunan Hijau green T-shirts.
There are more than 150 uniformed police personnel in the area, some of them are being brief by their superior. However, no FRU trucks are spotted so far.
KLCC is the gathering point for the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 rally before they march to Masjid Jamek at noon to join Bersih 3.0. Most of those in the crowd are wearing the trademark Himpunan Hijau green T-shirts.
There are more than 150 uniformed police personnel in the area, some of them are being brief by their superior. However, no FRU trucks are spotted so far.
8am: Jalan Petaling - There is already a crowd of 300 in Chinatown with participants having trouble to find a place to eat as the few hawker centres in the area are full to the brim.
An Alam Flora truck shows up to remove rubbish from the roadside, prompting the crowd to shout passionately, "Bersih, Bersih".
There is a group of artists playing music with their musical instruments, turning the 428 rally into a carnival, and attracting a man from the crowd to dance to the music.
An Alam Flora truck shows up to remove rubbish from the roadside, prompting the crowd to shout passionately, "Bersih, Bersih".
There is a group of artists playing music with their musical instruments, turning the 428 rally into a carnival, and attracting a man from the crowd to dance to the music.
7.34am: Police have erected roadblocks in major roads leading into the Kuala Lumpur city centre in the bid to stop protesters from congregating in Dataran Merdeka at 2pm today.
Roadblocks are reported in Ampang Elevated Highway, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Mahameru, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Tun Sambathan.
Roadblocks are reported in Ampang Elevated Highway, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Mahameru, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Tun Sambathan.
Bersih 3.0 organisers are advising participants to get to the city early and to take public transport. However, expect some of the train stations in the city centre, especially Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni, Hang Tuah, KL Sentral and KLCC, to be closed later today.
Tens of thousands are expected to take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in a rally dubbed 'Bersih 3.0' to demand, among others, electoral reform and the resignation of the Election Commission.
There was a spontaneous rally late last night near Dataran Merdeka, which drew a crowd of 2,000.
Protestors are gathering at six core locations, namely Jalan Sultan, Pasar Seni, Masjid India, Masjid Negara, Brickfields and KLCC with other additional points around the vicinity.
Bersih 3.0 protestors at KLCC are expected to be joined by Himpunan Hijau 3.0 supporters which will first march to the Australian High Commission to protest the RM700 million rare-earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan by Australian-based company Lynas before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.
Protestors are already gathering at 8am at Jalan Sultan to support a pre-rally video shoot opposing the MyRapid Transit (MRT) project which will cut through the historical street.
All protesters will eventually move towards Dataran Merdeka, a venue which the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has banned for demonstrations and have pre-empted the rally by sealing it off with barricades and barb wires.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Salleh had also announced yesterday that demonstrators may gather at their locations but barred them from marching, an order protestors are expected to defy.
Police have also obtained a court order barring the public from entering Dataran Merdeka.
Bersih 3.0 organiser had yesterday said they will respect the court order but will try to get "as close as possible" to the iconic square and still harbours hope that the police will allow a last minute goodwill gesture for demonstrators to occupy the site for a sit-in protest.
[More to follow]
Bersih 3.0 protestors at KLCC are expected to be joined by Himpunan Hijau 3.0 supporters which will first march to the Australian High Commission to protest the RM700 million rare-earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan by Australian-based company Lynas before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.
Protestors are already gathering at 8am at Jalan Sultan to support a pre-rally video shoot opposing the MyRapid Transit (MRT) project which will cut through the historical street.
All protesters will eventually move towards Dataran Merdeka, a venue which the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has banned for demonstrations and have pre-empted the rally by sealing it off with barricades and barb wires.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Salleh had also announced yesterday that demonstrators may gather at their locations but barred them from marching, an order protestors are expected to defy.
Police have also obtained a court order barring the public from entering Dataran Merdeka.
Bersih 3.0 organiser had yesterday said they will respect the court order but will try to get "as close as possible" to the iconic square and still harbours hope that the police will allow a last minute goodwill gesture for demonstrators to occupy the site for a sit-in protest.
[More to follow]
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