Adam said the man had insisted that rally participants meet the police head on, in order to get to Dataran Merdeka. Approaches to the square had been blocked by police ready with water cannon.

A video clip making the rounds shows a man having an argument with someone believed to be former Bersih co-chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan before Adam stepped in to cool the situation.

He said everyone had the right to their own opinion but that the rally must not be jeopardised.

“The authorities are here with water cannon and are going to stop us from getting to the Dataran so we’re just going to have to come up with another plan to get there,” said Adam.

He said the rally had brought together people with many different intentions and different mindsets, and a peaceful solution could always be found to differences of opinions.

“Throughout these past two months we have been restrained and tolerant, and trying to set good examples. If we suddenly decide today that we are going to become violent then the past years would have been a waste.

“That was the point I was trying to get across and the man understands that now,” he said.