The protest was supposed to take place at three locations in the city centre tomorrow, namely Sogo, Dataran Merdeka and Masjid Jamek. The protest will be held under the Bangsar LRT bridge in Jalan Bangsar.
The rally is being held to demand the arrest of Azam Baki, chief of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC), who has been the subject of controversy over the purchase of shares in public-listed companies. The protest organisers also said that the MACC should be placed under the purview of Parliament.
Police said traffic would be diverted away from Jalan Kuching, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Railway stations in the central Kuala Lumpur area will be closed. They are:
- LRT Ampang Line/Sri Petaling Line – Pudu, Hang Tuah, Masjid Jamek, Plaza Rakyat, Bandaraya, Sultan Ismail
- LRT Kelana Jaya Line – Kampong Baru, Dang Wangi, Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni
- MRT Sg Buloh-Kajang Line – Bukit Bintang, Merdeka, Pasar Seni
- Monorail – Medan Tuanku, Bukit Nanas, Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, Imbi, Hang Tuah, Maharajalela, Tun Sambanthan, KL Sentral
- KTM – Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara, Putra
Police said about 1,000 policemen are to be deployed.
Organisers of the rally said the measures amount to a lockdown of central Kuala Lumpur for the sake of one person and gave the impression that there are secrets involving high-profile characters that are being covered up especially in relation to corruption and abuse of power.
The organisers contrasted the treatment given to Azam against the arrest of former prime minister Najib Razak on corruption charges.
They said: “Azam Baki is only the chief commissioner of the MACC but seems to be more invincible and powerful than the person who once held the highest position in the country.”
The protest rally is supported by 33 associations and 11 political organisations.
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