Red shirt protesters gather
PETALING JAYA: Red shirt protesters have started gathering at various locations in the city centre on Wednesday.
As the small groups of people started trickling in as early as 7am, police also made their presence felt.
Federal Reserve Unit personnel and trucks were seen on standby at strategic locations, mainly at Bukit Bintang and Petaling Street, the gathering points for the protesters.
The red shirt protest dubbed Himpunan Maruah Melayu is organised by Malay NGOs led by Sg Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Yunos to counter the Bersih 4 rally on Aug 29.
The protesters would be marching to Padang Merbok to join another rally organised by the National Silat Federation (Pesaka). This rally is dubbed Perhimpunan Rakyat Bersatu.
The meeting points will be the Federal Territory Mosque, the National Mosque, Putra World Trade Centre and Wisma Kraftangan, before the groups converge at Padang Merbok.
Here is a timeline:
8.15am: Small groups start to arrive at PWTC
7.30: The first of the red shirt protesters start to arrive at Jalan Duta.
7.30am: In Padang Merbok, a stage in black and red colours has been erected for the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally. Some people came early in their red t-shirts and red head bands. Traders set up shops early selling vuvuzuela and headbands, food and drinks.
The crowd starts arriving at the bus stop in front of PWTC at 9am
7am: Traffic into KL smooth. No sign of road closure. In Jalan Sultan, four police trucks and two police buses stationed in front of Swiss Inn Hotel to stop any trouble makers at Petaling Street.
Most traders at Petaling Street closed their shops. But the scene there seemed calm with a few people walking about. No sign of tension. KK supermarket on Jalan Sultan was open.
7am: Police trucks and buses spotted at Jalan Sultan, close to Petaling Street, a potentially sensitive area. An hour later, about a hundred policemen gather there.
Police officer on standby outside of Low Yat Plaza.
