(Sept 14): “Red shirt” rally participants will not be allowed to march in three locations in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said while the organisers had obtained a permit to gather at Padang Merbok, police would not allow any marching in Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and Low Yat Plaza.

“The allowed location is the prerogative of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

“But the Home Ministry and police will not allow any marching at Bukit Bintang, Low Yat, and Petaling Street.”

He said that Barisan Nasional component party MCA had also lodged police reports against the rally.

“So far we have received 67 reports. Four were from MCA and three from DAP,” he said.

(The three locations were originally targeted by rally organisers as gathering points.)

The “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu”, organised by the  National Federation of Silat Associations (Pesaka), is said to be held to counter last month's Bersih 4 rally, which had called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation over alleged financial scandals.

The organisers said the rally was not a racist get-together, but critics have pointed out the use of slogans, such as “kebangkitan maruah Melayu” (rise of Malay honour), have communal sentiments. – The Malaysian Insider