Bersih 5 gathers 18,000 - police
Astro Awani
November 19, 2016 23:32 MYT
November 19, 2016 23:32 MYT
Several individuals were arrested during the Bersih 5 rally, including Umno Youth Exco member Datuk Armand Azha Abu Hanifah and political activist Hishamuddin Rais. - Photo Astro AWANI / Shafique Shuib
A total of 18,000 participants of the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts movements took part in the Bersih 5 rally held in the capital city on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) today.
It said, 15,500 of them were from the Bersih 5 group, also known as the Yellow Shirts, while 2,500 were from the Red Shirts.
The Red Shirts members and supporters had gathered around Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, said the police.
They went marching to Padang Merbok after being directed by the police on duty today.
As for the Bersih 5 participants, they had gathered at Dataran Maybank, Bangsar LRT station, Masjid Negara, Masjid Jamek, Dataran Merdeka and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh also confirmed that several individuals were arrested, including Umno Youth Exco member Datuk Armand Azha Abu Hanifah and political activist Hishamuddin Rais.
Police also arrested two other Malay men, both aged 33 years old.
One of them was arrested for carrying weapons in the form of a machete and finger knuckles, while another was arrested for assaulting a Chinese man from the Yellow Shirts group.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar also had words of praise for his officers who were on duty today.
He said, they were highly commendable in showing patience and professionalism when doing their job.