POLICE have asked the organisers of this Saturday’s anti-kleptocracy rally to change the venue to Kelana Jaya stadium to avoid traffic congestion.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun warned that action can be taken against the organisers if they persist on holding the event at Padang Timur in Petaling Jaya.

The Pakatan Harapan anti-kleptocracy rally, to mark the end of a nationwide ceramah, is scheduled to be held at the Jalan Timur field on Saturday from 4pm to 11pm.

PH said it is expecting a turnout of about 100,000.

But police have stood their ground.

“We made a decision yesterday that we will not acknowledge the rally (if it is going to be held at the original location).

“We have received reports from the people living nearby that the rally will cause massive traffic jams,” Fuzi told reporters after the breakfast talk integrity session at the Police Training Centre in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

He added that the location is not suitable because the field can only accommodate 10,000 people while more than 20,000 are expected at the rally.

Explaining the suggestion to shift the venue, Fuzi said rally goers might spill out of the field and onto the streets, causing massive traffic congestion due to the large number of participants.

He added that they have also received four police reports from residents against the rally being held on the field.

“The place is also near the highway and there are only three entrances to the area,” he said.

He added that these concerns were explained to the organisers, with the suggestion to move the rally to the stadium.

“It is up to them now. We will take action provided under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 if they persist in holding the event in the field.”

Fuzi also said they have not received any information on any specific threat to the event. – October 11, 2017.