Mohammad Asraf Sharafi, the spokesman for the organisers Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR), said it was compulsory for the participants to ‘double mask’ and wear face shields and gloves.

“We wanted to ensure that the risk of Covid-19 transmission was reduced. Suhakam (Human Rights Commission) had even confirmed that the rally abided by the SOPs,” he said after he and 10 other activists were called in by police for questioning over the rally today.

“We discouraged parents and those in the high-risk group from coming.”

Lawyer Rajsurian Pillai, representing the group, said police were investigating them under Regulation 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) Regulations 2021 as well as Section 21 of Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act.

Asraf criticised the police’s probe against them, saying they were only voicing out their dissatisfaction against the government.

“We did not hold this rally as we wished, like the ‘durian gathering’ or the gathering at the prime minister’s house,” he said.

“We were only voicing out against the prime minister’s administration and demanding his resignation,” he said, adding that the group would not stop with the #Lawan rally.

Hundreds of protesters clad in black gathered outside Masjid Jamek and attempted to march to Dataran Merdeka on Saturday.

Police had earlier cordoned off roads leading to the square.