KL lock-down in full swing
The action for now seems to be at Masjid Negara, which is heavily guarded by the police.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The lock-down of the federal capital, ahead of the planned Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for this afternoon, is in full swing with the police setting up roadblocks at all major roads leading to the city while LRT passengers are being checked since early this morning.
FMT reporters on the ground report that there was heavy police presence in the city, especially in “hotspots” like Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Negara, Jalan Tun Perak, and Jalan Raja Laut, just to name a few.
Late last night the police conducted “raids” at small hotels in the city with the intention of flushing out outstation Bersih supporters who have come to the city for the rally.
Police have also been using helicopters to monitor the situation since this morning.
They have mounted a roadblock at the Sungai Besi toll, checking all cars. So far nobody has been detained at this roadblock but it has caused a traffic snarl for those wanting to enter the city, which, for the time being, resembles a ghost town with hardly any cars on the roads.
Dataran Merdeka, meanwhile, has been completely cordoned off.
Reports from the ground also say that the LRT system seems to be running smoothly but policemen have been placed at all stations.
They were seen checking bags of suspected passengers. At least four people have been arrested at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, while another eight near the Sogo shopping centre at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Among those arrested at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a protester who identified himself as Omar Mokhtar Abdullah.
Omar shouted at the police as they were approaching a larger group of protesters to warn them to disperse.
“Don’t worry, (Kelantan Menteri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) will be here with many buses, coming to Kuala Lumpur!”
After a few attempts to get him to leave, police then grabbed Omar and led him to a patrol car.
Omar earlier showed FTM an allegedly self-made yellow T-shirt with the words: “Kotor, Dark Justice”.
He said that he chose “Kotor” to refer to the government. “Dark Justice”, Omar claimed, was his nickname.
So far no LRT line or station had been closed.
Meanwhile, at Masjid Negara, at least four people have been arrested for allegedly having in their possession yellow Bersih T-shirts
The Bersih rally is organised to cal for free and fair elections. The government has banned the organisation but gave the go-ahead for the rally in a stadium.
