Police reiterate: We never gave permission for Bersih 4.0

City police have reiterated that they never gave permission to the organisers of the Bersih 4.0 rally to stage it in the city centre on Aug 29 and 30.

Kuala Lumpur Police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa, in a statement on Wednesday night, said the organising chairman Maria Chin Abdullah had issued a statement in the news portal Free Malaysia Today titled "Bersih Bows to Police, Will Change Rally Points",on the same day.

In this regard, Tajuddin reminded the organisers against twisting any statement issued by the police.

"Kuala Lumpur police have also stressed that the gathering is against the law because the organisers did not get the approval of Kuala Lumpur City Hall as required under Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (Act 736)," he said.

Tajuddin said police had advised the organisers to cancel the gathering at Merdeka Square and its surrounding areas because it was seen as conflicting with the preparations for the 2015 National Day celebration which will be carried out in the same area.

This he said was discussed at a meeting between the Dang Wangi District Police chief and the organisers of the gathering recently.

He said Kuala Lumpur police were responsible for ensuring public safety and public order in the city was assured.

Tajuddin also advised and urged the public to cooperate by not entering Merdeka Square if the gathering, which flouts the law, takes place.

Meanwhile, efforts by Bernama to see the statement said to have been issued by Maria in the portal were unsuccessful. The page was not found during a search on FMT.

Maria, when contacted, said the portal could have misconstrued the statement she issued.

"I think they (FMT) heard it wrongly...everybody assumes I'm going to change the place but no, not yet," she said. Also on the same matter, Gerakan Youth urged Bersih 4.0 to change the venue of their rally during the Malaysia National Day 2015 celebration to a stadium and hold it peacefully.

"It is irresponsible if Bersih proceeds to hold the street demonstration which is political in nature during the celebration as the current global financial crisis is affecting our country and certainly affected the tourism industry," its chief Tan Keng Liang said in a statement.

He added that in conjunction with the National Day celebration, Gerakan Youth was organising the #Peace4Merdeka campaign to promote unity and peaceful spirit among Malaysians which started today and would end on Aug 31.