Provocations from external parties main cause for ruckus at Petaling Street - Jamal

‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ organisers have claimed the ruckus which broke out at Petaling Street on Wednesday stemmed from provocations by external parties, including a group known as ‘Otai Reformasi’.

Confederation of NGOs of Malaysia chairman, Datuk Jamal Md Yunos said, the group had incited anger among rallgoers with provocative messages through leaflets that had been widely distributed.

“Several participants who were at Petaling Street were influenced with the provocations by the ‘Otai Reformasi’ group.

“The proof is in the leaflets which had been distributed to participants in the area,” he told reporters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today.

Jamal said, the commotion was also carried out deliberately to affect the rally which was approved under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

He also urged authorities, especially the police, to investigate the group as the main cause for the ruckus.

In the 4.40pm incident yesterday, Federal Reserve Unite (FRU) personnel were forced to take action by releasing water cannons on rally participants at Petaling Street after they refused to budge from the area.

At least two people were detained following the incident and investigated under Section 143 of the Penal Code, said city police chief Datuk Tajudin Md Isa.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also called on the police to investigate the matter which marred the otherwise peaceful ‘Red Shirt’ rally.

Meanwhile rally organisers said they were willing to pay for any costs incurred to authorities, especially for rubbish collection, during the rally.

Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Seri Rahman Dahlan had tweeted that rally organisers would be sent a clean-up bill amounting to RM38,000.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor, Datuk Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz meanwhile said, organisers would be charged an estimated RM50,000 for clean-up works following the rally yesterday.