Cops unaware of any protests during Obama visit

The police are in the dark over any planned protests against US president Barack Obama during the latter's visit to Malaysia next month.

Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Datuk Mohmad Salleh said: "No, not yet. We have not received any information on this, (but) we will act if we hear something."

Mohmad added that those with information should assist the police.

Last Tuesday, a pro-Opposition NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) burnt a cardboard replica of Obama and the American flag at a small protest in Taman Melati, Wangsa Maju.

They claimed that the act kicked-off a larger mobilisation of people to 'welcome' the leader on October 11, where the group claims that many more will congregate at KLCC.

The group's propaganda director Edy Noor Reduan claimed that their actions serves as an "important warning" and signals their rejection of the people of the controversial US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

Edy also said that the campaign, which now uses the social media hashtags #BantahObama #TolakTPPA is being held across several states, also signals the groups rejection of Obama's presence in the country.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organizations (MAPIM) recently issued a statement in protest against Obama's visit.

Its president, Mohd. Azmi Abdul Hamid, claimed that the protest was on grounds that the US was a "Western imperialist power that hopes to dominate the world".

MAPIM also said that Malaysia should emulate Brazilian president Dilma Rauseff which cancelled a trip to the US following uproar over allegations of US espionage via its National Security Agency (NSA) on Brazilian citizens.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian US embassy has yet to respond to Astro AWANI on the same matter.