LIVE: Thousands begin march to Padang Merbok as police keep close watch

One of the groups of 'red shirt' rally participants making their way to Padang Merbok. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, September 16, 2015.Tens of thousands of protesters started their march this afternoon as the "red shirt" rally moves towards Padang Merbok, even as a heavy police presence created an air of tension in Kuala Lumpur. (see map below for rally march route)

Hundreds of police and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers lined the streets of Petaling Street, Low Yat Plaza and Pudu Sentral, keeping a close watch on protesters dressed in red T-shirts and carrying banners and placards.

Protesters began arriving at different locations in KL early this morning in scores of busses, some carrying banners reading "Hidup Melayu" (Long-live Malays) and "Pertahan Kerajaan Pilihan Rakyat" (Defending the government of the people's choice).

They are heading to Padang Merbok where organisers are expected to address the crowd with speeches.

The protest is in direct opposition to last month’s Bersih 4 rally, which today's rally organisers claimed had insulted the integrity of the dominant Malay race.

Pekida president Jamaluddin Yusof earlier described the "red shirt" rally as a "jihad" and said 10,000 members from the Malay NGO will make their presence.

"Our members are not expecting any allowance for coming here today. We consider this a 'jihad' for the good of the country. We are carrying out our duty," Jamaluddin told reporters at Padang Merbok.

Jamaluddin had diPekida president Jamaluddin Yusof says its members consider today's rally as a 'jihad'. – The Malaysian Insider pic, September 16, 2015.sregarded the red shirt dress code and instead wore a black vest with the word Pekida and his name emblazoned on the chest.

He assured that the group was not interested in provoking any violence, despite the racial sentiments of the rally.

"Pekida does not like fights. We are thinking about what outsiders think of the country and Pekida.

"We do not want to be seen as gangsters. We will be polite and respectful."

Police have declared that the rally is legal, but have said three areas – Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and the area around Low Yat Plaza – are off-limits to the protesters.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said he will not stop Umno members from participating in the rally, but stopped short of endorsing the gathering.The rally has come under fierce criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, Umno Supreme Council members, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, as well as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, both of whom were top Umno leaders until a decade ago.

Follow The Malaysian Insider for live updates:

1.55PM: Homeless people are given food packets and red shirts at Jalan Hang Lekiu. An Indian man was seen eating a packet of rice with chiken curry and vegetable, with a pair of red shirts with him.

1.40PM: A video journalist from Astro is ushered away by police after allegedly asking provocative questions to some of the participants at Jalan Raja Chulan. Watch video clip here.

1:08pm: A 5,000-strong crowd gathered outside the Kompleks Kraftangan on Jalan Conlay sing the national anthem "Negaraku" before beginning their march to Padang Merbok. They are being led by traffic police.

12.43pm: Police set up roadblocks at several locations in Kuala Lumpur city centre, including the entrance to Petaling Street, the roads surrounding Padang Merbok, Dataran Maybank and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

12.29pm: Police have blocked entry into Petaling Street (pic, right). Police have declared the area, along with the Plaza Low Yat and Bukit Bintang areas, as off-limits to protesters.

12.14pm: Around 500 prostesters are marching from Jalan Putra towards Padang Merbok carrying banners, and crying out "Hidup Melayu".

12.01pm: Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ahmad Maslan has arrived at the National Mosque, greeted by more than 1,000 rally-goers who are shouting "Allahuakbar" (God is Great) and "Hidup Melayu" (Long-live Malays).

11.46am: The mood at Padang Merbok is sombre and the entire field is empty, save for a policeman and his dog.  A large crowd of rally-goers appear bored and restless as they wait for the action to begin and for more to arrive.11.30am: More than 10,000 people have gathered in PWTC and are moving in batches on foot towards Padang Merbok.

11.20am: A group of about 50 people dressed in red, riding motorcycles, have begun gathering in front of Petaling Street. Police had earlier said Petaling Street, along with Bukit Bintang and the area surrounding Low Yat Plaza, are off-limits to rally-goers.

- TMI