Much of Kuala Lumpur has been blocked off to traffic as the authorities attempt to clamp down on a planned protest demanding action against MACC chief Azam Baki.
Protest organisers are trying to gather at the Bangsar LRT station at 11am today.
The coverage of the event follows:
10.40am - Businesses within a 1km radius from Dataran Merdeka are closed.
According to Astro Awani, they have been ordered to close due to a court order.
Yesterday, the police obtained a seven-day court order prohibiting protests at Dataran Merdeka, Sogo shopping mall, and Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur.
This was in anticipation of the #TangkapAzamBaki protest.
10.30am: Bangsar LRT station - Several representatives from rally organisers 'Tangkap Azam Baki Committee' are seen on site.
Road blocks are set up to divert traffic from accessing the Bangsar LRT station but trains remain operational.
So far there has been light police presence with largely plain clothes personnel monitoring the location.
Others present so far include observers from the Bar Council and Freedom of Expression (FOE) Cluster.
Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) programme officer Vinodh Pillai, representing the FOE Cluster, says: "We hope that there are no untoward incidents today.
"We hope that the authorities will protect and enshrine our freedom of expression in this assembly. We look forward to working with the necessary authorities," he says.
The ‘Tangkap Azam Baki’ protest was mobilised in the wake of a shareholding scandal implicating the MACC chief, prompting calls for an independent probe on the allegations.
Azam claimed the over two million shares in two companies were not his but purchased by his brother in his name - in 2015 and 2016 - prompting the Securities Commission (SC) to also get involved over the possible misuse of his trading account.
On Jan 18, the SC issued a statement saying they had concluded their investigation into Azam and that based on evidence gathered, they were "not able to conclusively establish that a breach under section 25(4) of the Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991 (Sicda) has occurred".
However, following criticisms over its announcement, the SC issued a clarification the next day (Jan 19), where it clarified it found no evidence of proxy trading by Azam.
The country's first major rally this year will also be held amid fresh concerns over the Omicron Covid-19 variant. - Mkini
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