Sabah police commissioner Jauteh Dikun said they had decided not to give approval for the rally to maintain public order in the state, Bernama reported.

He said the Sabah government will be organising the Carnival Ria programme at the same venue tomorrow.

He was told that the programme had already received permission from the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.

Therefore, Jauteh said the police did not want a clash between the two programmes which could create an uneasy and unsafe atmosphere, especially for Carnival Ria visitors, including women, children and the elderly.

“We have rejected this assembly (Gempur Rasuah Sabah) based on the fact that it does not meet the conditions to be held in the area. The purpose of our rejection is to ensure peace, order and the well-being of Carnival Ria visitors.

“I advise this group not to hold an assembly for the well-being of the community in the surrounding area and also call on the public not to participate,” he said at a press conference at the Sabah police contingent headquarters today.

The organisers of the rally had said the gathering was expected to attract up to 10,000 participants from all over the country to voice their protest against the corruption crisis that is alleged to have tarnished the state’s reputation.

Jauteh said the group should use the right channels to convey their grievances and not disrupt public order.

Asked about the involvement of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students in the gathering, he said the UMS Student Representative Council had denied their involvement.

UMS, in a statement, announced the gathering did not involve any of its faculties, academies, centres, institutes or university staff.