2 STADIUMS OFFERED AS RALLY VENUE

Clearing The Air: Issue is not about sit-in protest but the location, says Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The management of Bukit Jalil National Stadium and Stadium Merdeka have agreed to allow Bersih organisers to use them as the venue for their rally on Saturday.

"The issue here is not the sit-in protest but the location.

"We have no problem if they (Bersih) have it at Stadium Merdeka, Bukit Jalil, Cheras or Titiwangsa," Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein posted on his Twitter page yesterday.

Bersih had earlier accused the government and City Hall of giving "mixed signals" on the issue.

Its steering committee yesterday announced that the sit-in protest would proceed as planned at Dataran Merdeka despite City Hall's objections.

Bersih had filed for permission to stage the assembly at the historic venue to City Hall and the police, but were sent a rejection letter by the Dang Wangi police on Monday.

Meanwhile, taxi drivers and traders yesterday urged Bersih 3.0 organisers to hold their rally in a closed venue, preferably in a stadium, to avoid traffic congestion and disturbances that could affect their day's takings.

The Malaysian Association of Taxi/Limousine Drivers and Operators and Car Rental Operators (Petekma) yesterday lodged a police report against the rally, expected to be held at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday afternoon.

Petekma deputy president Syahrir Abdul Aziz said the sit-down demonstration, organised by Bersih would disrupt their members' income for the day.

Read more on: 2 stadiums offered as rally venue - General - New Straits Times