The group’s chief security officer, Simon Siah, insisted that organisers had complied with the Peaceful Assembly Act, while City Hall to their knowledge has not sent any objection to the police.

“Neither was there any notice sent to us that the whole amphitheatre is going to be cordoned off,” he told FMT. Authorities had placed red-and-white securty tape around the park where the amphitheatre is located.

Siah, who also heads the land rights NGO Lawyer Kamek For Change said that they only found out from news reports that they were not allowed from using the stage, where renovation works are currently taking place.

Some workers from City Hall were seen working on a stage watched by several security officers.

There are no Bersih supporters present at the park.

Three days ago Bersih Sarawak said it will go ahead with its plan to hold a public rally at the amphitheatre at Jalan Budaya here despite renovation works at the site.

Its vice-chairperson Ann Teo said the group will proceed with the peaceful assembly as it had exhausted all other options.

Organisers expect 5,000 people to attend the assembly, held simultaneously with similar rallies in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu which will feature speeches, screenings of short documentaries, music and poetry reading.