THE #SelamatkanMalaysia rally will proceed this Saturday despite warnings from the police, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said.

The Bersatu youth chief, however, told The Malaysian Insight negotiations are still taking place between the organiser, Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the police.

“Yes it is on but we are still talking to the police,” the lawmaker said.

Bersatu’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin said police had already been notified of the rally even before the announcement of the event at a press conference last Sunday.

“Before we made the announcement, our secretariat had already informed the police,” Badrul, a former PKR man, said.

Badrul, also known as CheguBard, assured that the rally would start and end peacefully before making a plea to all parties, including PKR, to join the protest.

“Our volunteers are ready to make sure that everything will start and end peacefully,” he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay had earlier warned that any party planning to hold a rally in Kuala Lumpur on September 16 must obey the law, including submitting an application for a permit beforehand.

The rally is a sign of protest against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in his corruption case.

On September 4, Zahid, who is also Umno president, was granted a DNAA by the High Court on 12 criminal breaches of trust charges, eight counts of bribery and 27 for money laundering, involving millions of ringgit belonging to his charitable foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi.

Badrul said they are also inviting those in PKR, DAP and even Muda to participate because there are those in the coalition who are not satisfied with the DNAA.

The rally will be held in front of the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur at 2pm on September 16.

Muda secretary-general Amir Abdul Hadi said his party would not be taking part in the protest despite sharing a similar stance with PN over Zahid’s DNAA.

He said Muda is committed to work with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and other groups.

“We are not going to the protest, Muda is committed to PSM and other civil rights organisations.

“We have already submitted a memorandum to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“We will give them five days to respond and if there is no feedback, we are going to stage a different campaign which will be announced later,” he said. – September 12, 2023.