Despite the spate of arrests following its last rally on March 7, the #KitaLawan campaign is set to hold another mass gathering in KL this Saturday, calling once again for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak and the release of jailed Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
While the gathering will proceed with or without prior approval from the PDRM, the #KitaLawan secretariat is currently waiting to have a meeting with the police regarding their plans this Saturday, said representative Fariz Musa.
“Whatever the situation, March 28 will still go on. Whether police give their permission or not, we will continue,” The Malaysian Insider‘s Melati A Jalil quoted him as saying at a press conference in Dataran Merdeka today.
Under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, mass gatherings do not require a police permit, but organisers still need to give the PDRM advance notice.
Fariz said that whether the rally receives approval or not, the #KitaLawan secretariat sees no difference, as they “will still get arrested”.
To date, 11 people have been hauled up by the police in connection to the March 7 rally.
Despite the arrests, organisers are confident that Saturday’s rally will bring in even more participants from the public.
“We expect that (bigger turnout). Previously people were just waiting to see (what happened), and the March 7 protest opened people’s eyes,” PAS Youth treasurer Mohd Fakhrul Razi said.
On the night before the rally, a talk titled “People Against GST March 27” is scheduled to be held at 9pm in Dataran Merdeka, with speakers such as electoral rights activist Ambiga Sreenavasan, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, PKR vice-president Tian Chua, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok of the DAP slated to speak.
“People are invited to be together with #KitaLawan activists overnight at Dataran Merdeka,” Fakhrul said.
Saturday’s #KitaLawan gathering is scheduled to march towards the Sogo shopping centre at 4pm.
In Photos: The #KitaLawan Rally
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