KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Police claimed today it did not receive any notice from organisers of the #KitaLawan rally in support of jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this Saturday.

As such, Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainol Samah said the event would be in violation of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which stipulates that organisers of such events should give the authorities 10 days’ notice.

“They did not give notice as per the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012,” Zainol said during a press conference at Dang Wangi police station.

“So, the rally on that day does not follow the law.”

At a press conference earlier today, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil claimed the rally complies with the PAA as a notice has already been submitted to the police.

The PAA removed the requirement for rally organisers to obtain police permits, replacing it with the obligation to provide authorities with adequate notice of such assemblies.

Zainol said that the police will monitor the event on Saturday, but stressed that this was not for the purpose of arresting participants.

He warned, however, that those who break the law would be detained in accordance with the law.

“You can exercise your rights; the public also have their rights to walk safely in the area,” he said.

Earlier, Zainol questioned four Pakatan Rakyat (PR) politicians, including PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and asked them to reveal their plans for the rally.

Zainol said there will be gathering points at Masjid Jamek, Central Market and the PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut before rally participants head to Sogo shopping complex along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

Speaking outside the police station, Nik Nazmi did not reveal details of his meeting with the police, but insisted the rally will go ahead this weekend.

“The #KitaLawan rally goes on at Sogo,” he said.

According to a report on The Malaysian Insider (TMI) on February 28, Zainol had warned the public against participating in the rally, which was deemed illegal as the organisers had not applied for a permit.

The police are reported to be considering taking action on the rally organisers under Section 143 of the Penal Code.

On February 10, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that reversed Anwar’s acquittal of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and sentenced the Permatang Pauh lawmaker to five years’ jail.