No plans of road closures for rally, say police
KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans for road closures despite today’s Free Anwar 901 rally at the car park of the Jalan Duta Court Complex.
However, city police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamad Salleh said police could still close roads around the area if the need arose.
“At this moment, we do not plan to close any road but we have to be ready to react to any situation,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He said police had already posted on Facebook a list of roads which the public should avoid during the rally.
“We are expecting heavy traffic from as early as 7am in eight areas leading to the complex, namely Jalan Duta (both ways), Jalan Kuching, Bulatan Segambut, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Jalan Ibadah, Jalan Dutamas, Jalan Persiaran Dutamas and Jalan Hikmat Usaha,” DCP Mohamad said.
He advised people who have to use those roads to start their journey early or use public transport.
He urged people not to park their cars where it could block other road users.
Meanwhile, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said it would stay away from the rally to avoid being blamed for any possible chaos.
“We have decided not to clash with them (the protesters) as we do not want anyone to blame us should the situation worsen.”
Perkasa members congregated at a mosque in Jalan Duta yesterday evening for prayers.
They plan to remain there until the court verdict is known.
In ALOR SETAR, Kedah CID chief Asst Comm Zakaria Ahmad said police would increase their patrols in the state as a precautionary measure.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he was personally against the rally as it was an attempt to influence a court decision.
“To me, it is an attempt to influence the court to make a decision in favour of Anwar,” he told reporters.
Nazri said that if a person’s popularity was allowed to influence the legal system, those who were popular would never be convicted.
In KLUANG, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein reminded the Free Anwar 901 organisers of their responsibility to ensure public order during the rally.
“They said they had a long meeting with the police about the rally being carried out peacefully. Let the people judge for themselves if they will walk their talk,” he told reporters after an event in Taman Sri Lambak yesterday.
In KUANTAN, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said ministry staff were on standby to help should the rally go out of control.
“I have also instructed all hospitals to be on high alert,” he said.
All treatment provided would be recorded so that it would not be exploited by certain parties, he said after joining Kuantan MCA leaders in presenting red packets to about 800 senior citizens at the Mentri Besar’s residence yesterday.