KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 ― Police guarding Jalan Bukit Bintang have admitted that they were unable to stop the crowd of red shirts from spilling into the popular shopping district earlier, with one personnel even suggesting that using force to hold the protesters back would have backfired on the authorities.

Speaking to Malay Mail Online, the uniformed personnel who struggled to stop the swarm of protesters earlier said they had tried their best to hold their positions but their attempts were foiled at least seven times.

Asked why no smoke grenade launchers were used to stop the crowd, one policeman said: “If we do it, the police will be the one in trouble”.

Thousands of red shirts broke past several police cordons into Bukit Bintang area this afternoon, despite being urged by organisers to stand back.

As the groups charged through the barriers past shuttered shops, scores of uniformed enforcers were seen running helter skelter as they attempted to keep the situation under control.

Earlier, a minor face-off saw the police allow demonstrators march into the Bukit Bintang area but the group of red-shirted rally participants were later diverted to Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Reports on the ground indicate that the group then broke past at least four police cordons along Jalan Bukit Bintang, some chanting “Masuk, masuk” (enter, enter).

Participants eventually managed to march through Bukit Bintang. A police line was later formed along Jalan Bulan, which leads into the Low Yat Plaza area.

The rally officially called Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” rally is organised by martial arts group Pesaka and has received support by several Malay groups, as well as unofficial support from many Umno leaders.

The ruling party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called “Himpunan Maruah Melayu”, but has not prohibited its members from participating.