Group at rally disperses after handing memo to police
KUALA LUMPUR: Police quickly broke up the Nab A Thief (#TangkapPencuri) rally here with the crowd dispersing soon after handing over a memorandum to the force.
The rally was held to call for the arrest of businessman Low Taek Jho, who is a key figure in a major money laundering investigation in the United States and named in a series of its related forfeiture cases.
A group of protesters had gathered for the rally near the Sogo shopping mall at about 2pm but before long police from the Dang Wangi Police district quickly moved in to disperse the group.
The organisers, members of the Anak Muda Cari Jho Low (AMCJL), were seen negotiating with the police to be allowed some time to gather.
Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu arrived at the scene at about 3pm.
The situation temporarily looked heated as protesters ignored police advice and ramped up the rally with a pick-up truck that they used as a stage for speeches.
The police Light Strike Unit were then seen taking their place to stop the protesters from marching.
However, a compromise was reached as the crowd were given a certain amount of time to gather at Dataran Sogo, and to disperse without marching.
The crowd then left the venue around 4pm after they handed over the memorandum.
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Shaharuddin Abdullah said some 200 policemen were at hand to ensure that nothing untoward occurred.
"We monitored the crowd. “The organisers complied with our orders and dispersed when told to do so,” Asst Comm Shaharuddin said at the scene.
He also added that the organisers had sent in a notice on the rally last week.
“They failed to meet some requirements, including obtaining permission from the venue owners – the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the management of the Sogo shopping mall," he said.
Asst Comm Shaharuddin said police would be calling up the organisers soon as the rally was deemed illegal.
One of the event organisers, Amir Abd Hadi, said the gathering was “a success”.
The organisers complied with our orders and dispersed when told to do so. Asst Comm Shaharuddin Abdullah