Disciplined crowd, rally peaceful

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Bersih 4 organisers, participants keep their end of the bargain on public order and peace during rally

In Kuching: A sea of yellow from over 3,000 people at Padang Song Kheng Hai yesterday. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

In Kuching: A sea of yellow from over 3,000 people at Padang Song Kheng Hai yesterday. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: There was no police intervention as an estimated 200,000 people from all walks of life took part in the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur which ran to clockwork peacefully near Merdeka Square yesterday, despite the government having declared the assembly illegal.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim lauded participants for living up to a peaceful rally.

Met by The Borneo Post’s sister paper Oriental Daily, he said police were pleased that the rally had taken place in an organised way with no chaos or confrontation occurring as at press-time.

“As at 5pm, we are still not able to ascertain the turnout. This is because participants covered way too many main streets. However, we estimated the crowds at Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Rajah Laut at over 35,000 people.”

He said the total participation could eventually exceed 70,000 there.

“I am glad the organiser of Bersih 4.0 rally kept up their end of keeping the situation all under control, this is the reason why police did not intervene in the rally today.”

He said the organiser had promised that no protestor would enter the Square. Hence, speakers were allowed to deliver speeches and participants assembled on the main streets, he added.

According to him, some 3,000 police personnel have been dispatched to maintain public order.

The protestors who came in a sea of yellow t-shirts started thronging the capital city centre in the morning and from noon, five orderly groups marched towards the Square from five gathering locations.

The rallies taking place simultaneously in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching from 2pm yesterday to 11.50pm today (Aug 30) would be the longest Bersih rally on record.

As the grid of protesters approached the Square from five locations, food courts and coffee shops in the vicinity reported good business.

At 7.15pm, there was a stir in the crowd as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife made an unexpected appearance at the rally. Accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, he spent 20 minutes moving among the crowd.

Earlier, opposition leaders including those from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PRK), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) led different groups of protestors to eventually meet near the Square.

PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail showed up at about 2pm and her presence immediately drew attention, with many jostling for photos while others received yellow bands from her. DAP parliamentarian leader Lim Kit Siang was also present at about the same time as Wan Azizah. His supporters cheered his presence whilst Lim said the people want a transparent and clean government.

Many other NGOs and student movements such as LangkahSiswa were among those in the peaceful assembly.

Representatives from the Human Rights Groups and various embassies were also seen on the ground to observe the rally.

The organiser also engaged volunteers to clear garbage after the crowds to maintain cleanliness on the streets in the vicinity of the Square.

As many were expected to camp overnight in the vicinity of Merdeka Square, 1,000 men in blue would be stationed there to ascertain control on the rally.

In Kota Kinabalu: Participants making their way to Likas Bay II in yesterday’s peaceful rally at Tanjung Lipat.

In Kota Kinabalu: Participants making their way to Likas Bay II in yesterday’s peaceful rally at Tanjung Lipat.

In Kuala Lumpur: Thousands of supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih at the rally yesterday. — Photo by Oriental Daily.

In Kuala Lumpur: Thousands of supporters of pro-democracy group Bersih at the rally yesterday. — Photo by Oriental Daily.