A street demonstration took place in front of the KL Sogo shopping centre today, purportedly as an act of protest against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak following recent political developments.
Despite being warned by Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar on Wednesday, the organisers -- a group of youngsters who called themselves "Demi Malaysia" -- had decided to continue with the rally.
The organisers had reportedly said they expected a participation of more than 500 people today. However, Astro AWANI observed that only some 50 people turned up for the event.
In its tweet at 3.56pm today, Demi Malaysia under the tweet handle @demi_msia claimed that a total of 26 of their activists were held by police during the demonstration.
This, however, has yet to be clarified by the police. When contacted, Dang Wangi OCPD, ACP Zainol Samah, said the police will issue a statement on the matter soon.
Police yesterday arrested two activists, Adam Adli and Syukri Rezab, believed to be in connection with the planning of today's demonstration.
Their lawyer, Michelle Yesudas confirmed that the duo were detained at the Dang Wangi police station and arrested under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948.
Earlier, Astro AWANI journalist, Mariah Ahmad was on location to report the happenings at the demonstration live.
3:32PM Calm returns to the city centre as the demonstration comes to an end. Despite the gathering earlier, traffic in the city was reported to be normal.
Police officers, however, are still seen lingering around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Esfahan.
3:22PM There are now six police buses in the area.
3:20PM It is estimated that some 100 police officers are currently at the scene.
3:10PM Two Royal Malaysian Police buses arrive in front of KL Sogo.
3:07PM Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is reopened to the public.
3:07PM Police are asking both members of the public and media to remove themselves from lingering at the entrance to KL Sogo.
2:59PM Shoppers who are trying to gain access to KL Sogo are being told to use the shopping centre's back entrance to do so.
2:57PM A section of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman has been cordoned off, as well as the main entrance to KL Sogo shopping centre.
2:41PM Among the five detained is Fahmi Zainol, a student activist. Like Chah and Tan, he also claims ignorance on the reason of his arrest.
2:31PM The situation near KL Sogo starts to get chaotic as five more individuals are detained.
2:27PM Two explosions are heard in the background as two more individuals are arrested.
2:25PM Chah and Tan are detained by police. The duo, however, claim they are not sure of the reason
2:17PM The police ask for PKR's Teja assemblyman Chah Lih Kang and Simpang Pulai assemblyman Tan Kar Hing to disperse, but the duo says they were confused by the police's orders.
2:10PM People have begun to gather at the entrance of the shopping centre. Despite the growing crowd, the situation remains calm.
1:23PM Several police trucks are seen around the KL Sogo area for the impending demonstration.
Astro Awani
Sat Aug 01 2015
The chaotic situation at the street demonstration in city centre earlier today. - Astro AWANI/Shahir Omar
Semua jenazah dibawa keluar dari HRPB
Semua jenazah anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) yang maut dalam nahas helikopter di Pangkalan TLDM Lumut dibawa keluar daripada Jabatan Forensik Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) pada jam 4.35 petang pada Rabu.
Polis tumpaskan sindiket seludup dadah ke Sarawak
Polis menumpaskan sindiket penyeludupan dadah ke Sarawak dengan penahanan dua buruh binaan dan merampas pelbagai dadah bernilai RM1.76 juta di dua lokasi berasingan, pada Isnin lepas.
Buka tirai edisi ke-13, komited jadi pemacu WST2040
Ekspo dan Forum ASIAWATER secara rasmi membuka tirai penganjuran kali ke-13 di Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur untuk tiga hari dari 23 hingga 25 April 2024.
Empat ahli along didakwa lakukan khianat dengan api
Mahkamah menetapkan 23 Mei depan untuk sebutan semula kes bagi serahan dokumen.
Pemberhentian pekerja: 6,000 pekerja Tesla di Texas, California terlibat
Tesla akan memberhentikan 6,020 pekerja di Texas dan California menjelang pengumuman keputusan suku tahunannya pada Rabu.
Perbelanjaan isi rumah dijangka naik 5.0 peratus sepanjang 2024 - BMI
BMI melalui satu nota penyelidikan berkata ia mempunyai pandangan yang berhati-hati tetapi positif bagi perbelanjaan pengguna di Malaysia sepanjang 2024 memandangkan pemulihan ekonomi akan diterjemahkan kepada pertumbuhan perbelanjaan pengguna sebenar yang kukuh sepanjang tahun penuh.
Teliti projek penyelidikan, isu industri sawit negara
MPOB komited untuk menangani isu-isu industri dengan berkesan di samping memperhebat usaha penyelidikan dan pembangunan.
Banyakkan program, tarik minat pelajar dalam bidang STEM - Wan Azizah
Pendedahan pelbagai program berasaskan Sains, Matematik, Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi (STEM) perlu dilaksanakan secara berterusan.
Yen jatuh, pasaran berjaga-jaga awasi tindakan Jepun
Dolar meningkat setinggi 154.88 berbanding yen, paling tinggi direkod sejak 34 tahun.
Pusat data membentuk sebahagian besar daripada pelaburan digital dilulus berjumlah RM144.7 bilion
Pada 2021 pelaburan dilulus dalam pusat data berjumlah RM3.4 billion, RM80.8 bilion pada 2022 dan RM60.5 bilion tahun lepas.
1MDB: Mahkamah akan tentukan sama ada pendakwaan berjaya buktikan kes - Hakim
Muhammad Shafee berhujah bahawa pertuduhan terhadap anak guamnya adalah salah serta bertindih.
1MDB: SPRM ke Riyadh untuk sahkan surat derma RM2.6 bilion - Saksi
Penguasa Kanan SPRM Nur Aida Arifin berkata pihaknya telah pergi ke Istana Riyadh pada 2015 bagi mengadakan pertemuan dengan dua putera Arab Saudi.
1MDB: Najib tak dedah mengenai pertemuan dengan Raja Arab Saudi ketika siasatan - Saksi
Najib tidak memaklumkan kepada SPRM mengenai pertemuan delegasi Malaysia bersama Raja Arab Saudi, Almarhum Raja Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
1MDB: Muhammad Shafee ditegur hakim kerana bersikap 'keterlaluan'
Ketua peguam bela yang mewakili Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ditegur apabila dilihat menyerang kredibiliti pengawai penyiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) ketika perbicaraan.
Mahkamah tolak permohonan 1MDB untuk pindah kes saman AS$6.5 bilion
Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman turut mengarahkan 1MDB membayar kos RM4,000 masing-masing kepada Arul Kanda dan Mohd Irwan.
Mahkamah Rayuan tetapkan 20 Ogos untuk dengar rayuan Najib gugurkan hakim
Tarikh itu ditetapkan hari ini susulan pengurusan kes di hadapan penolong kanan pendaftar Mahkamah Rayuan Nurul Azrina Mohamed Yusof.
Disekat dari ke luar negara, tetapi tidak ditahan - Bekas Pengarah SRC
Shahrol memberitahu beliau tidak ditahan pihak berkuasa berkaitan urus niaga syarikat itu, namun disekat daripada ke luar negara.
Tiada perjanjian dengan pendakwaan untuk beri keterangan terhadap Najib - Jasmine Loo
Bekas peguam 1MDB sekali lagi menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak membuat sebarang perjanjian dengan pihak pendakwaan untuk memberi keterangan terhadap Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Perbicaraan kes 1MDB terpaksa ditangguh selepas Najib disahkan alami cirit-birit
Dr Mohd Hafiz berkata ubat-ubatan yang diberikan mungkin menyebabkan rasa mengantuk dan Najib perlu berehat sekurang-kurangnya dua hari.
Pengurusan 1MDB sepatutnya lakukan usaha wajar mengenai PSI - Saksi
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa pengurusan 1MDB sepatutnya telah melakukan usaha wajar mengenai kewujudan PSI sebelum dana 1MDB disalurkan kepada PSI untuk tujuan usaha sama.