Pesaka gets DBKL nod to use Padang Merbok for Sept 16 rally
RELATED CONTENT
- Pesaka’s president, Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, has clarified that the September …
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today approved the Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (Pesaka) bid to use Padang Merbok as the venue for its September 16 rally.
Mayor Datuk Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz said that DBKL gave the green light as it was the same location they offered to Bersih 2.0 prior to their overnight Bersih 4 rally last month, although the polls reform group rejected the offer.
“Yes, we have given the approval already,” Mohd Amin told Malay Mail Online over the phone.
“Like Bersih, we offered them Padang Merbok but they did not want it. Since this group wants to use, we give them.”
Pesaka’s president, Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, has clarified that the September 16 rally is officially named “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” and is open to all Malaysians, instead of the “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” (Malay Dignity Rally) name that has been associated with the rally that is seen as being for Malay groups only.
The former Malacca chief minister also insisted that Pesaka’s intentions were peaceful despite concerns over its racial overtones, adding that the group should be allowed to hold its rally since the polls reform group Bersih 2.0 was allowed to hold its rallies.
Around 100, 000 people attended the overnight Bersih 4 rally last month held to demand Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation over several scandals associated with 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
