Thousands defy police warning to attend 'Blackout505' rally
Teoh El Sen
Mei 25, 2013 10:44 MYT
Mei 25, 2013 10:44 MYT
Thousands have turned up at the Suara Rakyat 505 rally at Dataran PJ this evening, despite stern warnings from the authorities that the gathering is unlawful.
Online reports estimate crowd by 9pm to have swelled to between 4,000 to 20,000, mostly people dressed in black.
Personalities spotted at the event included student activist KS Bawani of '‘Listen, listen, listen’ fame; Seri Setia state assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who has been charged over offences relating to organising another rally; and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia’s (SAMM) Badrul Hisham Shaharin.
This is said to be the last of the ‘Blackout505’ gatherings organised by Pakatan Rakyat following the 13th General Election.
The emcee of the event Ekhsan Bukharee Badrul Hisham of Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia today reportedly proclaimed three main reasons for the rally today:
• to call for the resignation of the Election Commission (EC) leaders
• to demand re-election in constituencies where fraud has taken place
• to support Bersih's tribunal to probe allegations of vote rigging
Previous rallies have taken place nationwide almost on a daily basis. Some of the rallies included ones in Kelana Jaya , Penang, Kuantan, Johor, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu, Melaka, Kedah, Perak.
Police have warned that the rally today was “illegal” as police have not received the 10-day notice as required by law under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said that those that do not adhere to the act will "pay a heavy price" for their offence.
Several of those organisers of previous Blackout 505 have either being investigated or charged, mainly on the provision of notice.
Below are among tweets and on the event: