2.56pm: Some participants turning back to Sogo after they can’t get through to Dataran Merdeka due to the human gridlock on Jalan Raja.
2.28pm: Some barricades near Dataran Merdeka opened to allow rally goers more space to congregate. Police keeping an eye.
2.10pm: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived on stage and waves at the crowd at Dataran Merdeka. Also present is Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan.
2.08pm: Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrives at Masjid Jamek LRT station amid cheers.
2.07pm: Police helicopters seen circling around Dataran and surrounding areas.
2.06pm: The crowd at Dataran Merdeka singing the national anthem Negaraku to mark the start of the event.
2pm: PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was called by the emcee to go on stage to be seated together with several other leaders and NGOs representatives.
1.50pm: Crowd filled to the brim at Jalan Raja in front of Dataran Merdeka. Chants of "tolak Icerd" and "Hancur Icerd" quite prevalent. Sogo crowd are gearing up to march towards Dataran Merdeka. They are singing and chanting.
1.40pm: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi seen leaving Masjid Negara. Crowd moving to Dataran Merdeka.
1.35pm: The mass solat hajat at Dataran Merdeka has ended and the crowd has been told to remain seated.
1.05pm: Crowd continue to gather at Masjid Jamek along Jalan Tun Perak. Traders can be seen taking advantage of the rally and have set up makeshift stalls selling t-shirts and masks.
1.03pm: The crowd at Dataran Merdeka is preparing for mass Zohor prayers.
1pm: A large crowd has gathered outside Sogo shopping complex. The group which began gathering since morning chanted anti-Icerd slogans and waved flags while waiting to march to Dataran Merdeka at 2pm for the rally. Ustaz Azhar Idrus was also spotted among the crowd here.
12.56pm: Papagomo spotted at Masjid Jamek, making his way to Dataran Merdeka.
12.53pm: Crowd allowed to go into Dataran Merdeka, which was barricaded earlier.
12.45pm: Rally organisers urged participants to begin walking to Jalan Raja as the Masjid Jamek area is already packed. Participants are also told to be prepared to perform mass Zohor prayers at Jalan Raja.
12.34pm: Crowd building up at KL Sentral.
12.16pm: A large crowd has gathered at Masjid Jamek MRT station, ahead of anti-Icerd's rally at 2pm.
11.30am: Several passengers, dressed in white T-shirts, taking the MRT to Kuala Lumpur were seen chanting “Bantah Icerd”. The group was also singing Negaraku and chanting “Hidup Islam” in the train.
11.25am: A fire engine is parked in front the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery in Jalan Raja near Dataran Merdeka.
10.30am: Members of a silat group march to Istana Negara, reports Malaysiakini. They recite the 'selawat' (poem to praise Prophet Muhammad).
10.15am: Crowd gathers in front of the Islamic Arts Museum near Masjid Negara.
KUALA LUMPUR: A crowd is building up at Dataran Merdeka as of 11.30am on Saturday (Dec 8).
Anti-Icerd (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) rally participants, mostly clad in white T-shirts with the 'anti-Icerd' printed in front, were seen bustling to Jalan Raja as police have blocked the adjacent roads along Jalan Hishammuddin and Jalan Tun Perak to motorists.
Police personnel, Kuala Lumpur City Hall officials as well Rela members are also on hand less than three hours before the rally officially starts at 2pm.
The stage for speeches by rally leaders and organisers have also been set up at Jalan Raja.-Star
Post a Comment