No-go for protest against khat and anti-Naik rally in Brickfields
Police say stern action will be taken against those who disobey their orders.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police said the protest against khat writing in Tamil schools, and the “Say No To Zakir Naik, Equal Rights To Indians & Others” rally will not be allowed to proceed for safety reasons.
The protest against khat writing was scheduled to be held at the Little India water fountain in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, at 7pm today, and the anti-Naik rally at 2pm tomorrow.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said the police will take stern action against those who disobey their orders, and advised the public to avoid the area.
“We will not compromise and will take stern action against anyone found disrupting public peace or sparking issues that touch on the nation’s racial or religious sensitivities,” he said.
“The issue (concerning Naik) has already been resolved, why continue with the rally?” he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters.
Mazlan said additional personnel will be deployed from tonight to monitor the situation and keep the peace.
He said roadblocks will be set up near the area and urged residents to be patient.
There will also be traffic diversions at Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Jalan Rakyat and at the Federal Highway heading to Little India.
Meanwhile, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim urged organisers of the anti-Naik rally to call it off, saying the controversy sparked by the preacher has died down.
He said that the police have also barred Naik from giving talks nationwide.
“So to go ahead with the protest will only raise temperatures and generate various reactions,” he said in a statement.
Anwar also advised the public to stay away from the rally and similar gatherings to ensure peace.
Naik sparked an outcry following a series of public talks he gave in Kelantan in which he allegedly questioned the loyalty of Malaysian Hindus to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He was later quoted as saying the Chinese in Malaysia could also be considered as “guests” in the country.
Over 100 police reports have been lodged against the preacher, who has been banned from speaking in public anywhere in the country, including through social media platforms, until investigations involving him were settled.
He has already been questioned twice by Bukit Aman police.
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Earlier this week, he apologised for any misunderstanding over his statements but maintained that these had been taken out of context.