KUALA LUMPUR: Police may have blocked the entrance to Dataran Merdeka, but they could not stop thousands of Bersih protestors
converging around the historic venue.
They came from Brickfields, Menara Maybank in Jalan Tun Perak, the Sogo shopping complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Central Market in Jalan Hang Kasturi and Masjid Negara.
Although the number of PAS supporters turning up at the national mosque was a lot smaller than expected as of 5 pm, the protesters as a whole had swelled to at least 25,000, according to the estimate of Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa.
The total is expected to grow, with people continuing to arrive at the five designated points and making their way to Dataran Merdeka.
Several opposition leaders spoke to the gathering there, including Kuala Krai Member of Parliament Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli who urged the protesters to use the two-day rally to force the top government leadership to step down.
“We cannot wait for the general election,” said the former PAS election director.
Seremban MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook of the DAP delivered the same message as he incited the protesters against the government.
The opposition leaders present included PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli and Gerakan Harapan Baru chairman Mohamad Sabu.
The assembly, which the police say is illegal, has been causing traffic jams around the city.
Bersih 4 is organised by the electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 which says it is fighting for clean and fair elections, and a clean government, among other things.
The rally has been planned for Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.-Bernama