Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the cops should not be rigid in their interpretation of public space, and that protesters did not need the permission of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to gather there.

“Dataran Merdeka qualifies as public premises. Just let them gather,” Syahredzan said in an Instagram post.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Isa earlier said that the organisers of the Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah rally had yet to resubmit their notice for the gathering, after their initial notice which was “incomplete”.

He also said the organisers had yet to show that they had DBKL’s permission to use Dataran Merdeka as the venue for the gathering.

Rusdi also disputed claims that DBKL was not the owner of the venue, saying Padang Merbok and Dataran Merdeka had been gazetted as venues for gatherings and that DBKL was the designated owner of these venues.