Instead, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun suggested that organisers hold the rally at the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya, which he said could accommodate a larger crowd.

“We have made our decision not to approve the application for many reasons.

“We received at least four police reports from local residents who complain of the traffic situation that will incovenience them,” Fuzi told reporters today.

He said Padang Timur, where the rally is planned to be held by Pakatan Harapan, could accommodate 10,000 people, far less than the 20,000 targeted by organisers.

He said this would cause a spillover of the crowd into nearby roads leading to the highway, adding that it would also pose problems to surrounding residents.

He said on the other hand, holding the rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium would allow better crowd control.

Fuzi warned that failure to adhere to police instruction would be dealt with under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

However, he said police intelligence revealed that the rally posed no security threat.

“That, I can confirm, but in one or two days things could change,” he added.