KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — The Immigration Department counter and other agencies at the Kuala Lumpur Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Pudu Sentral will be closed today in view of the anticipated rally.
The department, in a statement yesterday, said the counter would be closed as the building would be closed to ensure the safety of the public and its staff as well as avoid the inconvenience caused by road closures.
The Immigration counter would operate as usual tomorrow.
Special Affairs Department director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said today’s rally was geared towards raising the people’s emotions against the government instead of seeking electoral reforms.
“It is not clear what Bersih is struggling for. It is using the excuse of demanding electoral reform,” he told Bernama.
Today’s rally is the fifth organised by Bersih since 2007.
Now, Mohd Puad said, rival organisations have also threatened to converge on Dataran Merdeka, and police have ordered a lockdown of the city centre.
Besides the Bersih supporters in yellow shirts, there are also the Red Shirts and the Hindraf Orang, who claimed their presence were a counter-protest to Bersih.
Another movement, the Black Shirts, is led by Rani Kulup.
Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah was expected to be present until she was taken into custody yesterday.
Former Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan was also expected to be present.
Police have said the gatherings are illegal as no proper approval was obtained from Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
