Police claim success in thwarting supposed rally

KUALA LUMPUR (July 14, 2008): Police this evening claimed "success" in thwarting a rally planned by the Pakatan Rakyat for 10am at Parliament House this morning.

This was despite there being no sight of any Pakatan Rakyat supporters making their way in large numbers towards Parliament, while police action especially roadblocks mounted to prevent the rally, had thousands of motorists fuming mad after being caught in chaotic traffic snarls throughout the city.

Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Datuk Wira Mohd Sabtu Osman said although the roadblocks carried out since Saturday had caused traffic chaos and immense difficulties to road users, police were left with no choice but to carry it out to uphold security in the city.

"We have succeeded in thwarting the planned rally with our roadblocks and intense survelliance in the five districts in the city," he said adding that the roadblocks would be removed tonight after evaluating the situation in the city.

Police had on Sunday obtained a court order preventing Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat supporters from congregating anywhere within a 5km radius of Parliament House.

When told that the Pakatan Rakyat had denied planning a rally today and that police were overreacting to the situation, Mohd Sabtu replied:

"They probably called off the rally on seeing heavy police presence.They make their own assessment too, just like how we do ours."

Asked if police intend to mount out such roadblocks each time they receive information of such rallies even though they may never take place or greatly inconvinience the public or affect the economy, the police chief said:

"We will only take such measures when we are sure of such planned rallies after a thorough check. Our priority is security especially at a place like the Parliament which is the highest institution in the country, and I do not think the economy is affected by us doing this." he said.

He said more than 1,600 policemen went on duty at Parliament and areas in its vicinity in anticipation of a rally of at least 2,500 people.

No Pakatan Rakyat supporter or groups were spotted at the Parliament but at about 1pm, police recieved information that they were planning to gather at the Central Market, and took positions there.

Pakatan Rakyat youth chief Shamsul Iskandar turned up with about five other people and and was surrounded by scores of reporters.

As Shamsul tried to speak to the reporters, a large number of policemen gathered around him and broke up his impromptu "press conference".

Meanwhile, in the Dewan Rakyat, veteran parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) attempted to refer the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan to the Rights and Privileges Committee for setting up roadblocks on all roads leading to Parliament House today.

Raising a point-of-order under Standing Order 26(1)(p) just after the question-and-answer session ended, Lim referred to the motion passed on April 28 that all roads leading to the House be freely accessible.

"It's very clear today that the order was not respected and adhered to. Many parliamentarians were also stopped before they were allowed in. There were talks about a demonstration here, I don’t know. Can anyone be obstructed from coming (to Parliament) or can Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim be banned from coming?

"This is against the motion aimed at upholding (parliamentary) integrity. The IGP should be referred to the committee because he did not adhere to the motion passed by the Dewan on April 28," said Lim.

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin said: "The motion is before me. Before I spoke, I had read it already.

"If there was a total obstruction, you wouldn’t be here.

"I was stopped on my way here this morning but I didn’t object because I understand that the (Speaker's emblem) plate can be bought, the Proton Perdana Executive car (that I sit in) can also be bought by anyone. It's a question of security," added Pandikar Amin.

Opposition chief whip Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) then asked the home minister to explain the need for the roadblocks which had inconvenienced the public.

"Explain what demonstration was anticipated and who had planned the demonstration," he said.

"Pakatan Rakyat had not made any effort to organise any demonstration but there are accusations that are mala fide to the point of using the powers of the court for a restraining order to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from coming.

"Why is BN afraid of a mere person named Anwar?" he asked, adding that these actions (of demonstrations by the public) were the result of provocations by the BN.

"These are serious accusations; It is scaring the people and inconveniencing them for hours. Taxpayers' money is also being used (for the police operations)," he added.

The MPs started shouting and screaming for about 30 minutes before Pandikar Amin ruled that the IGP could not be referred to the committee.

Sumber: Sun2surf