Thousands protest at Stadium Merdeka

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MAMMOTH: Thousands of protesters gather at the historical Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium) during a rally for electorial reforms in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Opposition organisers said this week the gathering at the 30,000-seater Stadium Merdeka in the capital was to focus on continued widespread criticism of a voting system seen as skewed in favour of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. — AFP photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Participants of the opposition-led rally scheduled at Stadium Merdeka this afternoon started holding street demonstrations around Dataran Merdeka and the vicinity of the venue from around 10.45 this morning.

At the Dataran Merdeka-Jalan Raja Laut-Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman confluence, some 40 demonstrators – all donned in green T-shirts – were seen carrying banners and shouting slogans to call for the Lynas advance materials factory in Kuantan, Pahang to stop its operations.

At Stadium Merdeka, a huge crowd had gathered outside its main entrance despite the rally to only begin at 2pm.

Some were shouting ‘reformasi’, ‘reformasi’ while among them there were those who brought along their children despite this being an offence under the Peaceful Assemblies Act 2012.

Checks by Bernama at Masjid Negara here found participants gathered there had children, babies as young as six months to those in their early teens, in tow.

Most appeared in ‘uniforms’, with green or yellow T-shirt tops.

They were also seen gathered at Kampung Baru, KLCC, Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Central Market, Brickfields, Jalan Sultan, Dataran Merdeka – some of the gathering points prior to heading to the venue.

They had come as early as 8am and the same scene was noticed around the Sogo shopping complex at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar prior to this had reminded those planning to attend the gathering to heed the law on bringing children.

The Peaceful Assemblies Act 2012 also prohibits participation by non-citizens, citizens below the age of 21 organising assemblies, holding assemblies at restricted areas, within 50 metres of restricted areas, while children below 15 should not be brought or recruited to attend any assembly.

Offenders can be fined between RM10,000 and RM20,000, if convicted. — Bernama