KOTA KINABALU, April 28 — The Sabah chapter of civil society group Bersih 2.0 said today that its planned May Day rally in the city will go on, despite a court order issued to the police to stop the event from taking place.

The group’s vice chairman Jannie Lasimbang said Bersih 2.0 is committed to holding the gathering on May 1, which she noted has already earned the endorsement of 50 civil groups in the state.

“We are going to challenge the order at the court and hope to file an application to set aside the order tomorrow,” she said, adding that it would still be possible to have the court order reversed, although this would depend on the court.

“We are committed to our plan to stage this important rally on Labour Day on May 1, and that no matter what this rally would go on as scheduled,” she said, without elaborating further.

Earlier today, Sabah police warned the public against participating in the event or lingering in areas listed in the court order during the day of the rally.

State criminal investigations department chief Datuk Salehhudin Abdul Rahman pointed out that the court order was obtained to bar the illegal assembly from taking place and anyone in the banned area was liable for action.

The court order was issued on April 27 in response to Sabah Bersih 2.0’s planned gathering of 10,000 people in the town field on May 1 which was rejected by local authorities.

The court order covers Padang Merdeka — where the event was initially planned for — City Park, Segama waterfront, Dataran Bandaraya and Taman Chong Thien Vun and its surroundings.

The order, signed by magistrate Mohd Faiz Omar, is to prevent several named respondents and their supporters from gathering at the proposed location despite not getting approval.

Those named include opposition leaders such as DAP state leader and Kota Kinabalu MP Jimmy Wong Tze Phin, DAP state secretary and Dr Edwin Bosi (DAP), PKR vice chairman Darell Leiking and ex-senator Datuk Maijol Mahap.

Two other politicians were also named in the court order — Angkatan Perubahan Sabah president Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing and Star Reform Party chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan — although Lasimbang has denied any links to the two.

Others named included Lasimbang herself, activist Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, Daniel John Jambun, Kanul Gindol, Wilfred Gaban, Ann Lasimbang and S.M Muthu.

Last Thursday, Lasimbang said they will proceed with its planned rally here despite not getting the “approval” from the relevant authorities.

The rally, supported by some 50 civil society groups, is aiming to gather around 10,000 people for the two-hour event from 3pm to 5pm, this Friday to talk about their grievances on illegal immigrants, land rights, and the newly-implemented goods and services tax among others.