Today is the day where Bersih 2.0 rally is taking place in KL.
The public were inconvenienced from Thursday as roadblock were set up in various places. Many turned up late as roads heading into KL were cordoned into single lanes.
Not to forget, buses were rerouted, bus stations closed down. Even selected LRT stations were closed down today.
And nope, no Internet shutdown happened as feared by the oppositions. Internet was and is still OK.
Lockdown to KL was initiated from 12am today and expected to last until 10pm tonight. The situation is tense due to discovery of weapons like parang and molotov cocktails, even in Perak, which no one claims to. Of course finger pointing happens, and we don’t know who planted these weapons. And we may never know till the end.
The rally was supposed to take place at vicinity of Stadium Merdeka, since the application to use Stadium Merdeka was rejected.
Umno Youth’s Patriot team led by leader Khairy Jamaluddin was also not spared. He was arrested along with another 20+ people from Patriot.
Events are taking place at Stadium Negara, Stadium Merdeka, KLCC, Menara Maybank, old KTM office, Sogo, Dayabumi, KL Sentral, Jalan Pudu, Bukit Bintang.
Its now 4pm and if everything was allowed to run smoothly, the rally would have ended. Instead, we had a cat and mouse game in central KL, create more hassle for public and incur unnecessary cost.
I expect the police to apply for more budget as they spent quite a sum to try reduce the number of participants. Still, looks like about 2o,000 people still converged in KL.
And I really wonder, would all this be avoided if permission given to conduct rallies. Can we see a new business here? Allocate place for rally, and charge the organisers a hefty deposit, in case any damage is incurred. Give out permits for drinks and souvenirs.
Personally, I think the handling of the rally will reflect badly on the authorities. It provides the opposition with more ammo to condemn authorities. One will wonder if a rally was allowed to be held with the necessary precautions, would all this have occurred? Maybe yes, maybe no. The police will justify their action by saying the rather err on the side of caution, in the name of public safety (though some may say its for politicians’ image safety).
Some of the rally supporters held it at various countries around the world. Not sure if they were attacked with tear gas or water cannons.
updated 10pm: confirmed 1 death. Baharuddin Ahmad, husband of Setiawangsa PKR Wanita division chief.
The police force is expected to battle with Umno Youth and polls reform coalition Bersih in the streets of Kuala Lumpur as both groups seek to break the blockade to mount two separate protests.
Umno Youth, which is rallying to defend the electoral system, will be congregating in Bukit Bintang at 1.30pm. This was a last-minute change from the earlier announced time of 10am.
Bersih has vowed to gather at the Stadium Merdeka at 2pm to call for wide-ranging reforms to the electoral system which it claims to be unfree and unfair.
Despite roadblocks at key junctions and roads in Kuala Lumpur, traffic is smooth from the low number of vehicles, but traffic is gridlocked at the outskirts as police weed out possible protestors.
The majority of the police are stationed at the favourite haunts for protestors – Dataran Merdeka, the Masjid Jamek area and the Sogo shopping centre.
Vehicles entering this area are being vigorously inspected. There is also heavy police represence at Masjid Negara.
As of 8.30am, LRT services are operating as usual, without any stations inaccessible.
The weather forecast for Kuala Lumpur is a mix of cloud and sun with the possibility of showers or thunderstorms.
Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia kicked off the day with a screaming front-page headline in bold red ‘Curfew in KL today?’, followed by ‘There are people planning to open fire and blame the police for it’.
LIVE REPORTS
7.50am: Masjid Jamek – There is heavy police presence in the vicinity of the mosque. The road fronting the mosque has been sealed off.
7.45am: Masjid Negara – A dozen FRU jeeps and a water cannon truck are stationed at the Jalan Keretapi roundabout opposite the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court complex. No roadblocks are visible, but there are many police personnel in the area.
8am: Jalan Bukit Bintang – The streets of the tourist trap areas in Bukit Bintang are still empty, save for a few cars and a jaywalker. Unlike the other known assembly points for protesters, there is minimal police presence. Umno Youth is expected to rally here at 1.30pm.
8.10am: Tune Hotel – The Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman interchange are being manned by about 100 police personnel who are inspecting all vehicles entering the area. Tourist appear to be having trouble finding taxis. [See video]
8.25am: Sogo – The Sogo shopping complex on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman now looks like a police base. More than 10 police trucks and 100 police personnel are spotted. There is another roadblock here, and every vehicle is being inspected. [See video]
8.30am: Kampung Baru – Nine Bersih 2.0 supporters are nabbed and packed into one of the two police trucks parked near the Kampung Baru mosque. The road to the mosque has been cordoned off.
8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman– Bar Council’s monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a “Observer” tags on their jackets.
“We will monitor the rally and take photographs if necessary. There are about 100 observers from the Bar Council. Some of them are also providing legal aid,” said HR Dipendra, who leads a team of 15 observers.
8.45am: PAS headquarters – No uniformed police personnel or police vehicles are being stationed here, but a group of unidentified men has set up a video camera opposite the building. PAS’ top leaders are believed to be holed up here.
8.50am: Dataran Merdeka – Police have cordoned off Dataran Merdeka. More than six FRU trucks, including a water cannon truck is being parked here.
Along Jalan Tun Perak, near the Masjid Jamek station, more than a dozen FRU trucks and a water cannon truck were spotted. The area is a favourite haunt of anti-government protestors in the past.
An estimated 300 FRU and other police personnel are stationed in the vicinity.
“Nobody can enter this area,” said a uniformed policeman when the reporter tried to enter the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka. [See video]
9.00am: Stadium Merdeka – The route to the stadium from Jalan Maharajalela is being blocked with a barbwire barricade. Journalists who wish to enter the area must register with the police.
9.05am: KL Sentral– Police are inspecting the bags of a group of PAS supporters from Kelantan.
9.15am: DBKL – About 60 police personnel and ten police trucks spotted at the T-junction in front of City Hall.
9.25am: Kampung Baru – Another 18 males have been brought to the police truck, joining the nine detained earlier. The truck is parked in front of the Kampung Baru mosque wich was locked up by the mosque committee about ten minutes ago.
9.35am: IPK KL (state police headquarters) – As of 9am, 21 people had been arrested, according to spokesperson ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.
Unofficially, an officer at KL IPK says the number of people arrested has exceeded 100.
9.30am: Maju Junction – Four men are being whisked away by the police after police found yellow shirts in one of their bags.
9.35am: Masjid Jamek – Seven people have been detained. It is unsure why. Reporters are now allowed to get near the truck where they are held.
“You cannot be here. Please speak to my officer if you want to enter this area,” said a police personnel.
9.40am: Istana Negara – A water cannon truck and riot police were spotted at the area. It seems that this strectch of Jalan Mahameru is completely off limits to vehicles.
9.40am: Bukit Bintang – Near Lot 10 shopping belt, it’s holiday as usual for tourists who have started to pour onto the streets and into the malls.
The Umno Youth anti-Bersih rally is expected to start from Bukit Bintang Plaza at noon, before marching to Stadium Merdeka about 2km away.
Some clashes are expected to take place with Bersih 2.0 supporters who are also marching to the stadium.
However, not a single Umno protester is in sight at the moment. About 50 members of the press have also converged in front of the iconic McDonald’s at the Jalan Sultan Ismail – Jalan Bukit Bintang junction.
While there are no roadblocks nearby, a handful of plainclothes policemen are seen loitering about holding their walkie talkies tight.
9.45am: Masjid Negara – At least 1,000 Bersih 2.0 have gathered near the former KTM headquarters and are chanting slogans.
9.50am: Masjid Negara – An elderly man approaching the national mosque with the intention of praying has been turned away by the authorities. The number of Bersih 2.0 supporters at the old railway station is growing.
9.55am: Petaling Street – A diminutive retiree, who only wants to be known as Anne, says freedom is precious.
“I am old, but I am walking (with Bersih) because they are taking away my freedom, I can’t even wear a yellow shirt now,” she said when met.
“When I was young I didn’t do anything. I was in the education service and I had to stomach (misgovernance) like sheep because it was my bread and butter,” she said.
The feisty woman, who had her details taken down by police this morning for wearing a bright yellow shirt, was part of the Bersih rally in 2007.
She is walking alone today, “because it’s easier to work alone”.
Asked of her children’s reaction to her decision, Anne, who chided a reporter for asking her age, said her children told her to “have a nice walk”.
Petaling Street is under a kilometre from the Bersih’s final destination Stadium Merdeka.
Police have cordoned off part of the road as well as adjoining Jalan Tan Cheng Lock.
9.55am: Masjid Jamek – More passengers are streaming out of the LRT station. The police are not checking their personal effects but are keeping close watch.
Outside of the Masjid Jamek LRT station, the area along Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Pudu is crawling with police officers. Some are guarding the entrance of Masjid Jamek.
This spot was one of the major flashpoints during the first Bersih rally in 2007.
10am: Masjid Jamek – Police are seen randomly checking the people’s bags in the Masjid Jamek LRT station vicinity.
“They asked me to open my bag and asked me where I came from,” says a middle-aged Malay man who was stopped by the police for a check.
However ,the cops did not find anything suspicious in his bag and let him go.
Masjid Negara – At the old railway station at Jln Sultan Hishamuddin, a 70- year-old man wearing a Pakatan Rakyat vest and serban was arrested along with two helpers when he insisted on going to the national mosque for prayers. The three of them are led off in a police jeep.
Masjid Kg Baru – The surroundings of Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Raja Alang and the masjid are calm with light traffic.
No Bersih supporters or leaders are in sight. The police seem to have the area under control.
10.05am: Masjid Negara – The crowd in the area is rapidly growing. There are now more than 1,000 people, facing off with about 400 police personnel.
No one is allowed inside the national mosque except the police. About 10 police trucks are parked nearby.
10.10am: Sogo – As a steady stream of shoppers enter the mall oblivious to the heavy police presence, one man is seen being whisked away in a police truck. Sogo appears to be the only mall open for business in the vicinity.
10.21am: KLCC – Bersih tweets that there is a police clash with supporters. “Gas canisters used,” it says. Malaysiakini is trying to verify the report.
10.23am: PDRM reports that as at 9am their ‘Operasi Polis Perhimpunan 9 Julai 2011’ has seen 21 arrests – 20 Malays and one Chinese.
10.25am: Masjid Jamek – There are more arrests around Masjid Jamek LRT station. The police truck parked beside the Masjid Jamek mosque has at least 16 people in it.
Earlier, a man in white shirt was arrested after police stopped and checked his bag. Some fund-raising documents were found but they were not related to Bersih 2.0. The man said that he was raising money at a PAS ceramah.
Soon after, the police nab another four young women clad in tudung as well as three men. None of them was wearing yellow.
10:35am: Stadium Merdeka – Police have set up barbed wire barricades at the two ends of Jalan Stadium, keeping both pedestrians and vehicles out.
However, some 20 press personnel are camped out in front of the stadium.
10.35am: Masjid Jamek – Two women in red and pink respectively have been nabbed by the police and found several strips of red cloth on them. One of them read a newspaper as she was lead away by a female cop. [See video]
Another man who was carrying a green T-shirt with Jawi script printed on it has been arrested.
The Masjid Jamek mosque, which protestors used as a shelter during the 2007 Bersih rally has been locked up.
10.43am: Sogo – Another three men, carrying backpacks, are picked up from around the area.
One, a heavily built man with a long goatee, appears to be wearing a Bernama press tag.
Approached later, the Bernama reporter said he was let off once the police were satisfied with his explanation. He said he was questioned because he was holding a walkie-talkie.
The other two however was brought up a truck.
10.45am: Kampung Baru – Yet another group of people are being detained, including one male who was in possession of a Bersih T-shirt. He was not placed with the other detainees and brought elsewhere for questioning.
10.55am: Stadium Merdeka – Police have closed off the Maharajalela and Hang Tuah monorail stations, which is the closest to the stadium.
10.56am: KTM railway station – About 100 police are manning the entrance leading to the national mosque.
Some Pakatan Rakyat supporters are being asked the reason for their presence there.
10.58am: Brickfields – PAS Gombak Youth chief Syarhan Humaizy was taken by several plainclothes police officers at a restaurant near YMCA in Brickfields. Syarhan and several other PAS supporters were picked by cops who were checking restaurants and questioning suspected protesters.
The rest of the Syarhan entourage escaped the dragnet and they are now moving towards Stadium Merdeka via Jalan Tun Sambanthan.
11am: A Bukit Aman source said that more than 100 people have been arrested this morning so far.
11.04am: Hang Tuah LRT station is now closed for “security reasons”.
11.10am: KLCC – No evidence to claims that tear gas was used at protestors here. Weekend shoppers are seen going about their business as usual.
11.12am: Sogo – Police trucks are filling up fast. Another three men are being processed after they were detained around Masjid India.
One of the men, from Alor Setar, says that police searched his bag and found yellow T-shirt.
“Put in my photo, splash it a bit (Bubuh gambar saya, biar besar sikit),” he grins before being told told to get into the truck.
11.25am: According to sources, Pakatan Rakyat leaders are moving into the city centre.
11.30am: Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page says that as of 11am, 236 people have been arrested – 228 men, eight women.
11.35am: Tension rising at the old KTM station. The police are trying to disperse the crowd gathered on platforms inside the building.
The crowd is chanting “God is great” and remain in defiance of the police. At least six people have been arrested within the vicinity since morning.
11.34am: Masjid Jamek – A young man who has a yellow Bersih 2.0 T-shirt in his bag arrested in front of the McDonald restaurant.
From 10.50am until now, the total number of those arrested in this area is close to 40. They are carted away in a police truck as well as a police van. Anticipating more arrests, the police call in another truck to serve as their temporary remand room.
The heavy-guarded Masjid Jamek LRT station is still operating and commuters are still streaming into the area.
The number of journalists, both local and foreign, have risen to 50.
11.44am: The biggest crowd is in both the vicinity of Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara. However, the gates into Masjid Jamek are locked while police are not allowing anyone near Masjid Negara, confining most of the people in the old KTM station.
11.47am: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin sends a tweet saying that his Patriot group will be gathering in Jalan Bukit Bintang at 1pm. “Pahang Umno Youth chief Abu Jimi has been arrested by the police in Putra bus station.”
11.50am: Azmin Ali sends tweet – Saya sudah berjaya tiba di ‘forbidden city of KL’ (I have successfully entered the forbidden city of KL).
PKR deputy president Azmin is one of the 91 individuals banned by a court order from the protest area.
11.45am: Sogo – A woman is seen pleading with the police to release her husband who was picked up as they were shopping at Haniffa Textile.
“The police asked me to take a taxi, but there are no taxis here,” said the franctic woman as the police truck with her husband inside pulled away.
11.55am: Old KTM station – Many people are still loitering on the middle platform of the train station. Those asked to leave are seen exiting over a pedestrian bridge near the Syariah Court.
More than a dozen have been arrested in this area. The police are very rough in handling suspects. One is grabbed by the neck. The second police truck filled with those arrested leaves for the police station.
A team of Light Strike Force is lining up, preparing to move into the KTM station to disperse the crowd.
11.58am: Petaling Street – About 50 people are gathered in smaller clusters along the market street, believed to be protestors. However, none clad in yellow.
12.01pm: Old KTM headquarters – A public service announcement said that Komuter trains are facing delays because the authorities are conducting checks on passengers.
12.10pm: Masjid Jamek – MPSJ councillor Michael Tamil and Mohd Hafifudin, who is chairperson of Bumiputera Hawkers Association Masjid India, are monitoring the Masjid India market area.
“I’m here to see how much are the losses of the hawkers because of people not coming in,” said an annoyed Hafifudin.
“If the hawkers suffer due to road closure, who should they claim their losses from? They should claim from the government,” he told Malaysiakini when met at Bazaar Jalan Melayu.
Almost all the stalls and shops here are closed.
The same announcement also urged those without tickets to leave the area.
12.15pm: PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut appears very quiet with only about 50 people outside, including former PAS information chief Misbahul Munir. Four police patrol cars are parked 50 meters away, with about 15 police officers. A group of Special Branch men are mingling with the crowd, some watching from afar.
12.17pm: According to the police Facebook page, they are dispelling Bersih 2.0’s Twitter claims that there was a clash between protestors and the police at KLCC and that tear gas was used.
12:20pm: IPK KL –A total of 338 people have been arrested – 321 males and 17 females.
They were picked up around Dataran DBKL, Istana Negara, Pasar Seni, Kampung Baru and Masjid Jamek.
12.20pm: Pudu Plaza – At Jalan Landak, Pudu, some 200 people have started to gather, preparing for the rally.
Police are scattered about, searching the protestors’ bags and belongings without any further action.
A small quarrel breaks out between protestors and Pudu security personnel when they try to chase them away.
Some foodstalls and restaurants are still operating, and a durian stall is seen offering protestors a taste of their wares.
DAP leaders who have shown up include Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Ching Tong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Éng, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Lukut Adun Ean Yong Tin Sin, Pasir Pinjir Adun Thomas Soo, Bahau Adun Teo Kok Seong.
12.21pm: Former KTM headquarters – Police have locked up toilets in the building.
12.23pm: Masjid Jamek – Although hardly any shop is open, many people are loitering around the back lanes of Little India, waiting for the time to act.
The police continue to comb the back lanes, checking the bags foe signs of potential protesters.
“They asked us to open our bag, suspecting there is bomb inside,” said an angry middle-aged Malay woman from Klang after hers was inspected by four uniformed police officers.
“Why can’t we just sit here? This is our human right,” said another woman who is also from Klang.
12.30pm: KL Sentral – Pakatan Rakyat leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anthony Loke and Saifuddin Nasution are at Hilton Hotel, located in the building. They are expected to hold a press conference soon. All of them are on the list of 91 individuals forbidden to enter Kuala Lumpur.
12.31pm: KL Sentral – PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub have been detained.
12.32pm: Masjid Jamek – MPSJ councillor Michael Tamil and Mohd Hafifudin, who is chairperson of Bumiputera Hawkers Association Masjid India, are monitoring the Masjid India market area.
“I’m here to see how much are the losses of the hawkers because of people not coming in,” said an annoyed Hafifudin.
“If the hawkers suffer due to road closure, who should they claim their losses from? They should claim from the government,” he told Malaysiakini when met at Bazaar Jalan Melayu.
Almost all the stalls and shops here are closed.
12.34pm: About 1,000 people are moving from the old KTM station towards Dataran Merdeka. They are warned by the Federal Reserve Unit to disperse.
12.40pm: Official police update: As of 12 noon, 441 people have been arrested – 421 males and 20 females.
12.42pm: Old KTM station – Suhakam commissioner James Nayagam said they are concerned about the mass arrests.
“Police said they will be detained at Pulapol (Police Training Centre). We are monitoring the arrests and express our concern,” he said.
Nayagam, however, does not want to comment whether the police were rough in their actions against the suspects.
At least five marches have broke out in Petaling Street, near Daya Bumi Complex, Masjid Jamek, Pudu and Sogo and the police have responded by firing tear gas and water cannons.
Later, the marches have converged near the Puduraya-Menara Maybank area. The crowd is estimated to be 10,000 strong. After several unsuccessful attempts to disperse the crowd, a standoff remains.
Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Batu MP Tian Chua has been arrested.
12.45pm: Dataran Merdeka – Police have fired tear gas at a group of protestors who are marching towards the area. The tear gas cannisters landed near the Bar Council building.
This group is believed to have marched from the former KTM headquarters nearby. The crowd is estimated at 1,000 people.
12.50pm: About 3,000 to 4,000 people are marching from Petaling Street in downtown Kuala Lumpur to Stadium Negara.
They are chanting “Bersih, Bersih, Pilihanraya” and “Hidup, Hidup, Rakyat”.
Six middle-aged protestors began a rendition of Negaraku, which immediately received a strong response from the crowd, which sing along.
Dr Wong Fort Pin, one of the six singers, said they are celebrating peace.
“We are walking for a better Malaysia,” he said.
12.51pm: Hilton Hotel – PKR leaders Nurul Izzah Anwar, Syed Husin Ali, Lateefah Koya arrive in Anwar Ibrahim’s hotel room. Local and foreign media are at the lobby.
12.55pm: Pudu Plaza – DAP leader Teresa Kok is defying her ban and leading protesters to start the march towards Merdeka Stadium.
The crowd is shouting, “Bersih, bersih,” “Hidup rakyat” , “Rakyat sudah bangun,” and “Daulat Tuanku.”
The have at press time reached Shaw Parade, with no sign yet of any police interference.
The crowd soon swells to two thousand, with the DAP-led march cleverly sticking to tourist spots at Sungei Wang and Low Yat Plaza past Federal Hotel to foil police action.
They are also sending motorcycle recces to keep them informed of police presence ahead.
1pm: Masjid Jamek– The crowd here has grown to about 1,000 people and the are beginning to march.
Earlier, a student was hit by a tear gas cannister. He refused to have his photograph taken due to his status.
1pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – At Jln Puduraya, the DAP-led march of up to 2,000 people reach the city centre, converging with the PKR-led team. The crowd cheers in delight, and chant, “Bersih” and other slogans.
The now gather at the Jln Tun Perak and Jln Pudu junction.
1.10pm: Masjid Negara – The mosque is mostly empty. Some are complaining that the toilets are locked.
1.14pm: A fake Twitter account @bersihrally have appeared, apparently created only at 9.42 this morning.
Claiming to provide “live coverage of the Bersih 2.0 rally, with multiple small groups of volunteers in the field reporting” it has since provided false accounts of the goings-on at the current Bersih 2.0 rally.
Among some of the allegations are looting in Pasar Seni, clashes with the police at KLCC as well as shots being fired in Bangsar.
After being ‘outed’ by other Twitter users, @bersihrally finally posted a message: “Took you guys long enough to figure it out. I’ve done my job. Thanks for playing.”
1.15pm: Official police figures – 514 arrested. 478 males, 36 females.
1.20pm: Masjid Jamek – There is a standoff here. The growing
crowd continues chanting while the police are awaiting reinforcements.
1.21am: Top Bersih leaders Ambiga Sreenevasan, Haris Ibrahim, Wong Chin Huat and A Samad Said are in Hilton Hotel. They are with politicians William Leong, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Zaid Kamaruddin, Syed Azman Syed Nawawi and Tian Chua. They join Anwar Ibrahim who is in the hotel.
It is confirmed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has been arrested and was brought to Pulapol (Police Training Centre). Earlier, PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub were also arrested.
1.22pm: Petaling Street – The group of a few thousand which is marching to Stadium Negara turn back to Jalan Tan Cheng Lock after encountering a roadblock.
A large group of Sarawakians are chanting ‘Hidup Sarawak’, receiving applause from the rest.
1.30pm: Malaysia Hotel – About 500 Umno Youth members have gathered at Jalan Bukit Bintang. They are all wearing red T-shirts with the word ‘Patriot’. These T-shirts are also being given out to the public, including tourist.
The Umno Youth rally is aided with a pickup truck. Speakers would give speeches from the back of the truck and throw down T-shirts.
Among those present are Umno Youth leaders Arman Azhar, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Zaki Zahid but there is no sign of the movement’s leader Khairy Jamaluddin. His officers insist he will show up later.
The group is currently stationary and chanting “Hancur Bersih” (destroy Bersih) and “Who are we? Patriot!”. They narrowly miss a Bersih 2.0 procession by about 10 minutes.
1.30pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – The authorities fire tear gas at Jln Tun Perak, forcing the crowd to retreat once, then the angry crowd shouts, “Masuk” (go in) and starts moving toward Jln Tun Perak .
1.33pm: Jalan Tun Perak – PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli with a loudspeaker tells the crowd of at least 4,000 that party vice-president Mahfuz Omar and about 300 others have been arrested.
“The rakyat’s struggle requires sacrifices… Those under 40 here have never seen real democracy in this country,” he said.
The crowd reply with “Allahuakbar”.
There are traffic marshals from Bersih also directing the crowd to make way for vehicles passing through.
1.35pm: Press statement by IPK KL.
Thus far, 540 people have been arrested (479 male, 58 women, three juvenile) have been arrested for further investigation.
Among the arrested, 11 were wearing yellow Bersih T-shirt and one was wearing a red Patriot T-shirt.
Meanwhile, three individuals believed to be leaders or organisers of the rally were also arrested. They are PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, and party veeps Salahuddin Ayub, Mahfuz Omar.
1.36pm: KL Hilton – Bersih leaders hold a press conference and say they will march to Stadium Merdeka and will not give in to intimidation.
National laureate A Samad Said is also there.
S Ambiga says, “the cause of Bersih has been achieved, even before we have taken the first step.”
She said the authorities use of force was useless against the people’s will. “No matter what right will always prevail.”
Slamming the mass arrests, Ambiga said their original goals of rallying for electoral reform has grown into something bigger as it has stirred emotions amongst “right thinking rakyat”.
“First, it has stirred a sense of outrage against the exhibition of raw power by our government, that seems to be living in a time warp.
“Secondly, it has stirred in us (the desire) to bring back a sense of balance and decency into our government,” she said.
Thirdly, she said the rakyat are beginning to feel empowered to make change, despite police “intimidation”.
“You cannot quell the voices,” she said.
1.38pm: LRT Masjid Jamek – A police officer with loudhailer announced: “Perhimpunan hari in tak ada kebenaran jadi diminta semua bersurai serta merta atau kami suraikan dengan kekerasan.”
The officer also gave three minutes for the crowd to disperse.
This was met with “takbir” and jeers from the crowd, numbering about more than 500 people.
1.40pm: Menara Maybank – Water cannons unleashed on more than 1,000 protestors.
1.43pm: Masjid Jamek – A group of about 10 general duty police officers with gas masks chased after the protesters who ran helter skelter into Masjid India area. [Watch video – 17 sec]
1.44pm: Menara Maybank – Water cannon truck fires at the crowd a second time, this time with chemical laced irritants mixed with blue dye.
Instead of dispersing, the crowd charged forward. Some were seen hitting the water cannon truck with their bare fist.
This was met with another round of tear gas. The tear gas managed to disperse the crowd slowly.
1.52pm: Masjid Jamek – There are at least four police trucks stationed at Masjid Jamek LRT station.
Crowd has been dispersed by the police tear gas for now, but it is expected they will be regrouped later.
1.55pm: It begins raining in Kuala Lumpur.
1.57pm: Malaysia Hotel – Khairy Jamaluddin appears at the Umno Youth rally and gives out a short speech. He said that Bersih 2.0 cannot be supported because it is infiltrated by opposition parties.
He then leads the crowd in a march towards Stadium Merdeka. They will likely bump into a section of the Bersih 2.0 crowd.
1.59pm: Puduraya – Police fired tear gas on an estimated 10,000-strong crowd, which converges in Puduraya, in front of Menara Maybank. Part of the crowd came in from Masjid Jamek while others are from Petaling Street
Police had to resort to using tear gas after the water cannon failed to stop their advance. People in the crowd appear to be recovering from the tear gas and are coming back together to continue with their march.
2pm: Hilton Hotel – It is still raining cats and dogs outside the hotel and the atmosphere inside is tense as Pakatan leaders prepare to march out into the streets.
Despite the tension, they seem energetic and vowed to carry with their march to Stadium Merdeka once they get past the police barricade already set up outside the hotel waiting for them to emerge.
The Pakatan leaders are surrounded by a gaggle of reporters as they slowly make their way out towards the confrontation with authorities.
2.10pm: Puduraya– The police are increasingly harsh towards protestors. Some are dragged on the road. One protestor was bleeding from the head.
Some police officers were seen punching and pushing protestors who were trying to flee.
In one incident, several protesters were forced to jump off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture.
2.15pm: Puduraya – At Jln Pudu, the Bersih group moves on towards the Maybank building just 500 metres in front of the Umno Youth group who have been stationary.
It appears that both sides are coordinating despite their differences, to ensure members refrain from clashing.
However some Umno Youth members persist in pressing forward, baying for blood.
With them are Umno Youth’s Megat Firdouz, Reezal Merican and Arman Azha, all banned from the city.
The Bersih crowd disperses then regroups after FRU charge at them, arresting a few. They are unable to retreat to Petaling Street as the road in front of Kota Raya complex has been cordoned off.
They are forced to disperse into the back lanes behind Angkasa Hotel and Puduraya while the police pick on the dispersed groups, making arrests.
Those distributing flyers and flags to bystanders become easy targets for the cops and are swooped up.
In the ensuing melee, two TV Selangor reporters are mistakenly arrested despite wearing the press tags. However the duo, Abdul Muin Basuri and Norfarahidayu Baharudin are immediately released after other reporters identity them.
2.15pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth’s ‘Patriot’ procession has stalled momentarily.
According to sources within Umno Youth, the group is waiting for ‘further clearance’ when their desired route to Stadium Merdeka has been blocked by the police.
The group are also waiting for smaller pockets of Umno Youth supporters to march from Kampung Attap and PWTC.
Umno Youth leader Arman Azha is also seen trying to control the crowd from inching ahead.
It has started drizzling.
2.15pm: KL Sentral – Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih leaders are marching towards from the Hilton Hotel towards KL Sentral shouting “Bersih! Bersih!” but are stopped by the police.
People from inside the station are chanting with the leaders as well. PKR vice-president Tian Chua managed to find a weak spot in the police barricade and led the entire delegation through.
The top leaders are expected to march towards Stadium Merdeka.
“The outrageous arrest and mass detentions is most unwarranted especially after the wise advice from the Agong. Bersih has become more than a struggle for electoral reforms but is now for clean politics and governance,” said Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim.
2.18pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – As the drizzle starts, the crowds raise their hands and cheer again, and retreat towards Bukit Bintang.
Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy’s political secretary Satees Muniandy reports, “I’m at Jln Pudu. Rain is God’s blessing. The crowd is building up especially under the bridge. Thousands are not leaving despite water cannons, tear gas.”
2.20pm: Puduraya – Police moved in to detain dozens of protesters, with officers going in groups of five to six to detain individual protesters.
Incidences of police brutality were seen, with officers allegedly punching and shoving detainees. They were also allegedly seen manhandling female detainees.
Some protesters jumped off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture in possibly one of the most dangerous situations of the day so far.
2.25pm: Brickfields – The Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 crowd has managed to emerge from KL Sentral and have entered Jalan Tun Sambanthan where they are met by almost 1,000 supporters.
Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang and other personalities are spotted among the crowd.
While proceeding towards the city centre, they were pelted with tear gas cannisters and chaos ensued. A number of top leaders have been arrested.
2.30pm: Human Rights Watch’s Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson says, “This is a maelstrom of the Malaysian authorities’ own making.
“The failure of the top levels of the Malaysian government to engage in good faith dialogue with citizens demanding basic electoral reforms is the heart of the matter,” he says in a statement, blasting continuing police action against the rallyers.
2.30pm: Puduraya – The 10,000-strong crowd led by PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli and PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin has regrouped and move towards town centre.
However, the police fire yet another round of tear gas to disperse the crowd.’
2.35pm: Bukit Bintang – The Umno Youth group have stopped in front of Royale Bintang Hotel where they are walking towards another Bersih group at the Jalan Pudu-Bukit Bintang intersection.
2.35pm: Puduraya – Police fire rounds of tear gas into the crowd in quick succession, front of Angkasa Hotel and move in. The protestors hurl the canisters back into the police.
Some police officers, who were earlier seen punching protestors, are spotted with bruised eyes and coughing.
About 6 are arrested in front of Angkasa Hotel. The rain pounds down on the rally and protestors run helter skelter for shelter. Even the FRU get out of the rain.
The scattered protestors move towards the stadium in small groups of two or three following SMSes from Pakatan leaders asking them to gather there.
2.40pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth’s rally stand off with the FRU with neither budging.
Three are arrested after a scuffle ensues as protestors try to break past the FRU and tear gas is fired.
2.40pm: Puduraya – The crowd here is breaking up into smaller groups. They are believe to be taking separate routes towards Stadium Merdeka.
2.41pm: PDRM Facebook: As of 2pm, 644 arrested – 597 males and 47 females.
2.43pm: Puduraya– In a lighthearted moment at Jln Hang Jebat, members of the procession to the stadium stops to buy ice cream from a hawker, who is doing brisk business.
They are mostly from the 10,000-strong crowd in front of Puduraya earlier.
2.43pm: KL Sentral – Pandemonium breaks out at KL Sentral as police fire tear gas in a closed environment as Bersih 2.0 and opposition leaders attempted to exit the station via Brickfields.
The tear gas forced protesters back into the station, which has been locked down. Journalists outside KL Sentral were barred from entering the station, making it difficult to verify the status of the situation.
It was however confirmed that a group of Pakatan leaders and individuals were arrested in the chaos, including Batu MP Tian Chua, Pantai Dalam MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kuala Selangor MP Dzukefly Ahmad, artist Wong Hoy Cheong, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son and three other supporters.
2.45pm: KL Sentral– Anwar Ibrahim tweets that he has suffered a minor injury and that his two daugthers – Nurul Izzah and Nurul Hana – has been arrested during the melee.
Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan confirms that she has been arrested.
2.48pm: Puduraya – The crowd disperses into Tung Shing Hospital and a nearby Chinese school. Police are firing tear gas into the hospital in attempts to disperse the protestors.
There is brief respite as Subang MP R Sivarasa tries to negotiate with the police to allow protestors to move back to Masjid Negara.
2.50pm: KL Sentral– PKR vice-president N Surendran toldMalaysiakini Anwar is bleeding from the head and injured in one of his knees.
2.52pm: Puduraya – At Jln Hang Jebat near Stadium Merdeka, 3,000 Bersih supporters are gathered here attempting to move over to Stadium Merdeka nearby.
They meet a blockade with barbed wire. The crowd, growing by the minute, groups i front of the cops and chant at them.
Led by PAS election director Hatta Ramli and PKR Johor chief Chua Jui Meng, the crowd calls for the police to remove the barricades to no avail.
The two leaders give a short speech each telling the crowd they have accomplished their mission in arriving at the stadium, despite being unable to enter.
They thank the police and tell the crowd to return to Central Market.
2.55pm: Bukit Bintang – There’s a standstill between the Umno Youth’s Patriot rally and the FRU with neither side budging.
About three arrests were made when Umno Youth tried to break through the FRU line, breaking out into a scuffle before a tear gas canister was fired.
2.57pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been arrested when he was found to be resting and clearing his eyes from the tear gas fired, at a shack just 100m from the FRU line.
Water cannons and tear gas have also been fired at the remaining Umno Youth supporters, pushing them back 50m from where they originally were.
The group has thinned out to about 200 people.
He wrote on Twitter latter that he is being held at the Police Training Academy at Jalan Padang Tembak.
He said that wrote that one of his exco members was injured by a tear gas cannister.
“Have been taken Pulapol. FRU tear gas straight at them. Exco Zaki Zahid hurt,” he wrote.
3.10pm: PDRM Facebook – The total number of people arrested as of 2.30pm has reached 672.
3.15pm: Pudu – Police have agreed to give safe passage to the thousands of protesters assembled at Pudu up till Jalan Sultan on condition that they only use half of the road and march peacefully.
The accord was met after Pakatan parliamentarians R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham negotiated with the police, who also decided to allow the crowd to chant as they march.
3.20pm: Pudu – The crowd has begun to march from Pudu towards Jalan Sultan, thanking the police for allowing them safe passage. The 2,000-strong crowd also began singing Negaraku as they march.
3.22pm: Bukit Bintang – The 300 Umno Youth supporters at Jalan Bukit Bintang in front of Federal Hotel begin to disperse after negotiation with the police.
Claiming moral victory despite only being able to proceed 200m along Jalan Bukit Bintang – still far from their Stadium Merdeka destination – Umno Youth exco Megat Omardin said that their message have been conveyed.
“We have come and we fulfilled our purpose,” he told the crowd before another individual led a prayer.
Later, Umno Youth Petaling Jaya Utara chief Arman Azha toldMalaysiakini that exco Lokman Noor Adam as well as 20 of their members have been arrested.
Movement head Khairy Jamaluddin, who was also arrested, later tweeted that he has been taken to Pulapol while exco Ahmad Zaki Zahid is injured.
“Have been taken to Pulapol. FRU tear gas straight at us. Exco @zakizahid hurt,” he wrote.
3.37pm: Pasar Seni – The triumphant group from Stadium Merdeka marched down Jalan Sultan towards Central Market, but they were attacked by tear gas by police near the Pasar Seni LRT Station.
This has forced then to retreat down Jalan Sultan.
3.38pm: Pudu – The 2,000-strong crowd at Pudu have now been denied safe passage to Jalan Sultan, and riot police have fired both water cannons and tear gas on the protesters assembled in front of the Tung Shin hospital. The crowd is now sandwiched between two FRU blockades.
The police started spraying the crowd after negotiations broke down between police and Pakatan MPs R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham, following confusion over what the crowd is required to do.
It was learnt that the crowd were told to only use one side of the road and march peacefully, while it was understood that the police had wanted them to disperse into smaller groups before they would be allowed to march.
It is believed that Sivarasa has been detained, though it is unknown where he is being taken to.
3.39pm: Pasar Seni – The police fired more than 10 volleys of tear gas towards the crowd which is led by Bersih leader Wong Chin Huat without any warning as he was trying to deliver a speech before dispersing.
The tear gas was fired while the crowd was singing the national anthem. Most of the people are now seeking shelter under the Pasar Seni LRT station as Wong again lead them in singing Negaraku.
3.40pm: Titiwangsa Lake Gardens – About 20 Perkasa members are seen at a restaurant in Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, following the goings-on of the Bersih 2.0 rally through the television. However the group’s president Ibrahim Ali and his deputy was nowhere to be seen.
Ten police officers were seen keeping order at the main door of the recreation park.
Meanwhile, a sad fate befell a bride and groom on their wedding day today as their wedding convoy were not allowed through police cordons, forcing them to walk to the site of the wedding celebrations two kilometres away.
3.49pm: Pudu – The group of Bersih 2.0 supporters caught in a pincer between two police cordons in Tung Shin Hospital have now dispersed after police rushed in and begin to arrest dozens.
Most have fled using the back roads and alleys in small groups to make their escape while a hardcore few holed up in the upper parking lot of the hospital. The police subsequently fired tear gas canister at them and the last remaining holdouts were either arrested or left voluntarily.
3.50pm: Istana Negara – A small group of Bersih 2.0 steering committee members are marching towards the palace from Midah Hotel. They are awaiting clearance from the palace to submit Bersih 2.0’s petition.
3.50am: Pasar Seni – Bersih leader Wong Chin Huat, after reading out the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, call on the crowd to disperse.
The crowd begins to disperse peacefully but many of them still chanting ‘Reformasi’ and ‘Bersih’ under the Pasar Seni LRT station.
The police responded by firing another round of tear gas into the crowd.
4.00pm: Istana Negara – The Bersih 2.0 delegation of about 20 people led by A Samad Said were stopped from marching to the palace gates by the police about 200m away.
Negotiations with the police failed and the group agreed to disperse. However, Samad said he needed to rest and the group left him alone with the police before leaving the area.
4.01pm: PDRM Facebook – Among the top leaders arrested are:
Mahfuz Omar – KL Central
Salahuddin Ayub – KL Central
Mohamad Sabu – Jalan Mahameru
Fauziah Salleh – KL Central
Tian Chua – KL Central
S Ambiga – KL Central
Hadi Awang – KL Central
Azeez Rahim – Jalan Bukit Bintang
4.10pm: Light Rail Train (LRT) stations still closed, according to RapidKL – Pasar Seni, KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek and Dang Wangi.
4.21pm: After almost four hours of cat-and-mouse confrontation with the police in downtown Kuala Lumpur, most of the protesters have dispersed.
The Bersih committee is to call press conference at 4.45pm at Midah Hotel.
4.40pm: Pudu – Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani B Abdullah condemns the authorities for their harsh handling of the protesters.
The police force has not only disrespected the people’s right of assembly but also compromised the safety and health of the public by firing tear gas into the Tung Shin hospital compound.
When asked how the people should respond to such violations, he said Malaysians should choose representatives who can protect their rights.
4.50pm: Fadiah Nadwa Fikri of Lawyers for Liberty says that the police have invoked section 28A(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code – denial of access to lawyers – at Pulapol (Police Training Centre), where she says 1,000 people are being detained.
According to her, this is a violation of Article 5 of constitution.
5.34pm: PDRM Facebook – As of 3.30pm, a total of 924 people have been arrested.
6.30pm: Police say 1,401 protesters were arrested during the day-long operation, including 13 children. The authorities estimate the crowd turn out between 5,000 to 6,000.
6.45pm: IPK KL – Ambiga Sreenevasan has been released from detention. KL CID chief Ku Chin Wa said that the police would decide whether to take action against her after investigations are concluded.
6.40pm: City police CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah says all detainees expected to be released by 9.30pm. It is learnt that Bersih’s Datuk S. Ambiga and several others have been released already.
6.30pm: A total of 1,401 were detained, including 1,273 men, 115 women, 12 boys and a girl. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar says they will be released once investigations are completed.
5.30pm: The Bersih 2.0 steering committee failed to hand over its memorandum to the King at Istana Negara but declared its street rally a success.
It also condemned the arrests of any participants, including those from other groups.
Committee member Subramaniam Pillay said Bersih will hand over the memorandum to the King in due time, although there would be no street rally.
He also confirmed that Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has been detained and her last phone message said she was okay.
5.25pm: Police reported that as many as 924 arrests were made as of 3.30pm, of whom 875 were men and 49 women.
5.10pm: Throngs of people seen entering KL Sentral, most of them carrying face towels and bottles of mineral water.
4.30pm: Acting KL CPO Datuk Amar Singh says rally leaders detained under various offences, including under Section 27 of Police Act for illegal assembly.
4.20pm : Crowds that had gathered in KL for Bersih and Patriot rallies are dispersing; police keeping watch. A senior Bersih organiser requested crowd of supporters near Chinese Assembly Hall along Jalan Maharajalela to disperse.
3.18pm: Crowd gathered at entrance to Stadium Merdeka near MBSSKL. Some at police barricade but most have retreated and standing along Jalan Hang Jebat, seeming to wait for directions. Situation still calm.
3.15pm: Patriot disperses. FRU on standby watching everyone leave.
3.10pm: Patriot crowd praying in front of FRU water cannon.
3.01pm: Police say they have arrested 672 people as of 2.30pm (624 men and 48 women).
3.00pm: Thousands march through the rain towards Pudu. FRU fire tear gas.
2.55pm: Khairy picked up by police.
2.45pm: FRU fired tear gas at Patriot at Jln Bkt Bintang-Jln Pudu intersection to force them to disperse.
2.55pm: Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan detained for question. Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin has also been picked up by police.
2.39pm: Several Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been arrested, so far. Among them are PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Kuantan MP Fuzaih Salleh, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, vice presidents Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub and Batu MP Tian Chua.
2.35pm: Police say they had arrested 644 people (597 men and 47 women) by 2pm.
2.30pm: At least five FRU trucks head towards Pudu Raya.
2.25pm: Tear gas fired at crowd at Jalan Pudu and KL Sentral. Protestors throw back cannisters. Police warn reporters to stay away as they fire more tear gas fire. Its raining heavily
2.20pm: Police box in Bersih protestors between Swiss Garden Hotel and Magnum building. One man caught. Standoff between Bersih supporters and FRU who have closed the road in front of Magnum.
2.15pm: Crowd makes it into KL Sentral. Meanwhile, police are using batons to disperse at Jalan Pudu. The crowd disperses and regroups.
2.11pm: Kg Baru mosque has made announcement asking worshippers and the public to leave the mosque compound after prayers
2.10pm: Patriot group in Bukit Bintang waiting for two more groups from PWTC and Kg Attap before marching to stadium. Starting to rain here
2.05pm: Bersih and Pakatan leaders exit KL Hilton amid chants of ‘Bersih!’ to KL Sentral where they encounter locked doors.
2.01pm: FRU block Bersih group in front of Swiss Garden along Jalan Pudu as they march to Stadium Merdeka
2.00pm: Water cannons turned on crowd at Pudu Plaza
1.45pm: Third round of tear gas at Cahaya Suria Maybank interjunction as helicopters hover very low over crowd attempting to march to Stadium Merdeka.
1.40pm: Khairy Jamaluddin arrives to join Patriot group to a big cheer from crowd. Khairy is also on list of 91 forbidden from entering KL
1.41pm: Tear gas being fired at large crowd at Jalan Tun Perak near Maybank.
1.30pm: Reezal Merican defies restriction order to lead patriot in Bukit Bintang.
1.25pm: Police say 514 people had been arrested by 12.30pm (478 men and 36 women).
1.20pm. Patriot movement marches down Bukit Bintang in red shirts carrying Malaysian flags and singing national songs. Shops pull down shutters
1.19pm: Bersih group merges with another near Puduraya. Umno Youth’s Patriot group, headed by pickup truck with loudhailer, is distributing Patriot t-shirts, shouting Hancur Bersih’
1.10pm: Thousands in Bersih crowd start from Pudu Plaza, passing Bukit Bintang and are on the way to Jalan Pudu in bid to reach Stadium Merdeka
1.00pm: Kuantan MP fuziah tweeted that she’s detained in front of Hilton for obstructing police. She’s in a black Maria now
12.55pm: Police say 441 have been arrested by 12noon (421 men and 20 women).
12.45pm: Lim Kit Siang and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders are at KL Hilton Hotel.
12.40pm: FRU fire tear gas at protestors shouting ‘reformasi’ at Agro Bank near Daya Bumi in KL
12.30: A huge crowd of protestors shouting reformasi are leaving Central Market in an attempt to head towards Masjid Jamek and Dataran Merdeka. Near Masjid Negara, protestors were also seen carrying PKR and PAS flags while shouting Bersih
12.15pm: PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin have been arrested at KL Sentral
12.13pm: Police allow 5 lawyers from the Bar Council to head to the KL train station as a crowd shouted “reformasi” from inside the train station.
12.05pm: PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrives at KL Hilton accompanied by Subang MP R Sivarasa and lawyer Latheefa Koya. PKR sec-gen Saifuddin Nasution also arrives at KL Hilton
11.35am: All is peaceful at KLCC. Tourists taking photos. Mall security stepped up with metal barricades set up around the entrance, except small opening to let shoppers in.
11.30am: Police say they have arrested 236, including 8 women, in KL city for involvement in illegal gathering
11.02am: RapidKL trains won’t stop at three stations in the city from 10.15am on police orders – Hang Tuah and Maharajalela stations on the monorail line and Hang Tuah station on the Ampang line.
11.00am: A man wearing red shirt arrested by police near Masjid Jamek LRT station
10.40am: Bukit Aman media centre released a statement saying that one of the 21 arrested earlier Saturday has been released.
10.35am: A black maria is at Masjid Jamek with 13 people, mostly men, detained on suspicion of being Bersih demonstrators. Police detain 3 women in their early 20s for carrying red strips of cloth.
10.30am: A large crowd has gathered at the train station near Masjid Negara. Heavy police presence headed by Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman. More police trucks arrive to join FRU trucks at Istana Negara main gate but situation is still quiet.
10.01am: Shops start to open. Queue of 100 people in front of Machines, Lot 10, waiting to buy iPad2.
10.00am: A man was arrested by police at Jalan Melayu, off Jalan Masjid India, after he was seen shouting aggressively in front of the public and media representatives.
9.50am: Rela manning Central Market entrance. They say the market will open as usual at 10am but they will stand watch. Police patrolling on foot around central market before it opens.
9.45am: Small group of about 100 along Masjid India ordered to dispersed by police
9.30am: An official statement from KL police says they have arrested 21 people.
9.28am: 12 lawyers in suit and tie outside Masjid Jamek station. Large police presence but normal activity. Station remains open.
9.15am: A crowd of over 100 is at the KTM station near the National Mosque. Police are monitoring them.
9.10am: Police take away a group of people who had gathered near the Kg Baru mosque
9.07am: Road blocks on highways into KL causing traffic slowdown. A roadblock near Batu Tiga has brought traffic to a crawl, taking drivers more than half an hour from Shah Alam to the toll plaza heading to Kuala Lumpur. But traffic flow after the toll plaza is smooth.
9.05am: Three lawyers, in black jacket and tie, walked into Jalan TAR. They told newsmen they are there to provide legal assistance
8.50am: About 15 FRU trucks outside Istana Negara. Road blocks set up 500m away from main entrance of the palace
8.45am: 6 ambulances seen entering Jalan TAR, believed to be on standby.
8.40am: 12 police trucks and a black maria outside Sogo. About 120 policemen are around area. Random checks are being carried out on passing padestrians at Jalan TAR.
8.15am: Police close off entrance to Jalan Stadium with barbed wire. 20 black maria in front of car park.
8.10am: Heavy police presence, light traffic but no sight of crowds in areas around Chow Kit and Kampung Baru
8.05am: Jalan TAR is sealed off with large police presence outside Sogo.
8.00am: The city is near deserted. At Jalan Raja Laut, only policemen on duty were seen. Outside City Hall, about 200 policemen were seen having their breakfast. A police helicopter is hovering over the city.
7.55am: More police arrive on the monorail and are getting off at Maharajalela Station, opposite Merdeka Stadium.
7.30am: A number of FRU trucks, including those with water cannons, pass Jalan Maharajalela heading towards the National Mosque and Masjid Jamek.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have sealed off all major roads leading to the heart of the capital, telling people to stay away from any rally Saturday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the police had acted fairly in not issuing any permit to hold rallies.
The Sultan of Selangor said mosques and surau should not be used as a meeting place by those who come from other places to join in the street demonstrations.
The Ruler told his subjects to also stay away from street protests, saying this would harm the unity of the people. However, Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth and Perkasa look set to press ahead with their plans.
Bersih 2.0 insisted that its supporters will gather at Stadium Merdeka while Umno Youth under its Patriot umbrella will march at Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Perkasa has told its members to “stroll” around Tasik Titiwangsa
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