KL lockdown, big crowd near Masjid Negara

Jul 9, 11 8:14am
PHOTO GALLERY

The police force is expected to battle with Umno Youth and polls reform coalition Bersih in the streets of Kuala Lumpur as both groups seek to break the blockade to mount two separate protests.


Umno Youth, which is rallying to defend the electoral system, will be congregating in Bukit Bintang at 1.30pm. This was a last-minute change of time from the earlier announced 10am.

Bersih has vowed to gather at the Stadium Merdeka at 2pm to call of wide-ranging reforms in the electoral system which it claims to be unfree and unfair.

Despite roadblocks at key junctions and roads in Kuala Lumpur, traffic is smooth due to the low amount of vehicles, but traffic is gridlocked in the outskirts as the police are weeding out possible protestors.

The majority of the police are stationed in the usual haunts for protestors - Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Jamek area and Sogo shopping centre.

Vehicles entering this area are being vigorously inspected. There is also heavy police represence at Masjid Negara.

As of 8.30am, LRT services are operating as usual, without any stations inaccessible.

The weather forecast in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be a mix of cloud and sun with a chance of showers or thundershowers.

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia kicked off the day with a screaming front-page headline in bold red 'Curfew in KL today?', followed by 'There are people planning to open fire and blame the police for it'.

LIVE REPORTS

7.50am: Masjid Jamek - There is heavy police presence in the vicinity of the mosque. The road in front of the mosque has been sealed off.

7.45am: Masjid Negara - A dozen FRU jeeps and a water cannon truck are stationed at the Jalan Keretapi roundabout opposite the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court complex. No roadblocks are visible, but there are many police personnel in the area.

8am: Jalan Bukit Bintang - The streets of the tourist trap areas in Bukit Bintang are still empty, save for a few cars and jaywalker. Unlike the other known assembly points for protesters, there are minimal police presence. Umno Youth is expected to rally here at 1.30pm.

8.10am: Tune Hotel - The Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman interchange is being manned by about 100 police personnel who are inspecting all vehicles entering the area. Tourist appear to be having trouble finding taxis. [See video]

8.25am:
Sogo - The Sogo shopping complex on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman now looks like a police base. More than 10 police trucks and 100 police personnel are spotted. There is another roadblock here, and every vehicle is being inspected. [See video]

8.30am:
Kampung Baru - Nine Bersih 2.0 supporters are nabbed and packed into one of the two police trucks parked near the Kampung Baru mosque. The road to the mosque has been cordoned off.

8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman - Bar Council's monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a "Observer" tags on their jackets.

"We will monitor the rally and take photographs if necessary. There are about 100 observers from Bar Council. Some of them are also providing legal aid," said HR Dipendra, who leads a team of 15 observers.

8.45am: PAS headquarters - No uniformed police personnel or police vehicles are being stationed here, but a group of unidentified men has set up a video camera opposite the building. PAS' top leaders are believed to be holed up here.

8.50am: Dataran Merdeka - Police has cordoned off Dataran Merdeka. More than six FRU trucks, including a water cannon truck is being parked here.

Along Jalan Tun Perak, near the Masjid Jamek station, more than a dozen FRU trucks and a water cannon truck were spotted. The area is a favourite haunt of anti-government protestors in the past.

An estimated 300 FRU and other police personnel are stationed within the vicinity.

"Nobody can enter this area," said a uniformed policeman when the reporter tried to enter the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka. [See video]

9.00am: Stadium Merdeka - The route to the stadium from Jalan Maharajalela is being blocked with a barbwire barricade. Journalists who wish to enter the area must registered with the police.

9.05am: KL Sentral - Police are inspecting the bags of a group of PAS supporters from Kelantan.

9.15am: DBKL - About 60 police personnel and ten police trucks spotted at the T-junction in front of City Hall.

9.25am: Kampung Baru - Another 18 males have been brought to the police truck, joining the nine detained earlier. The truck is parked in front of the Kampung Baru mosque, has locked up by the mosque committee about ten minutes ago.

9.35am: IPK KL (state police headquarters) - As of 9am, 21 people have been arrested, according to spokesperson ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.

Unofficially, an officer at KL IPK say the number of people arrested has exceeded 100.

9.30am: Maju Junction - Four men are being whisked away by the police after police found a yellow shirts in one of their bags.

9.35am: Masjid Jamek - Seven people have been detained. It is unsure why. Reporters are now allowed to get near the truck where they are held.

"You cannot be here. Please speak to my officer if you want to enter this area," said a police personnel.

9.40am: Istana Negara - A water cannon truck and riot police were spotted at the area. It seems that this strectch of Jalan Mahameru is completely off limits to vehicles.

9.45am: Masjid Negara - At least 1,000 Bersih 2.0 have gathere near the former KTM headquarters and are chanting slogans.

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