KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — After repeated attempts by a persistent crowd of red shirts to march through Petaling Street, police relented and allowed a select few from the group to enter the usually crowded tourist shopping haven.
Dang Wangi district police chief Asst Comm Zainol Samah was seen personally escorting a red-shirted man believed to be one of the organisers of the mass gathering through the street.
The protesters were initially held back but the crowd insisted being allowed to march through, saying the Malays had a right to be at the venue, which is usually dominated by Chinese traders.
Several representatives from the rally then urged the police to allow a few from the crowd into the area, pledging they would not break through the uniformed human barricade if they could do so.
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.
Protesters are now spilling into Padang Merbok, which is the official venue for the rally.
