KOTA KINABALU: The organisers of the planned Bersih 3.0 rally to be held at Padang Merdeka on Saturday, April 28, would now have to source for an alternative venue as Padang Merdeka will be ued by City Hall to carry out their own programme.
Director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai yesterday said that City Hall would be holding a safety programme at Padang Merdeka on that day.
“We view public safety and public orderliness seriously and City Hall together with other enforcement agencies will be holding a crime prevention and safety programme at the Padang Merdeka this Saturday,” he said, adding that the programme would include exhibitions on crime prevention, drugs, fire safety and health.
Earlier, five associations led by the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM), handed over a memorandum to Yeo at his office in protest of the Bersih 3.0 peaceful rally.
Its president, Datuk Awang Buhtaman Hj Ag Mahmun, said the memorandum was handed over to City Hall to express their protest against the Bersih 3.0 gathering as it would cause losses to business operators in the city.
“We are worried that if the gathering does go on, it will cause chaos and disturbance in the state capital.
“It will also bring losses to business owners, cause traffic jam as well as anxiety to the public and tourists,” he said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Yeo said City Hall and the police had informed the organisers of the rally of their crime prevention programme and the unavailability of Padang Merdeka on Saturday.
“They came to see me and I have told them about our programme.
“They understood and said that they would come to support our programme,” he said.
Asked if the rally organisers had proposed for an alternative venue for their peaceful gathering, Yeo said that no proposal was mentioned during the meeting.