IGP: Obey the law before asking for protection

KUALA LUMPUR: Obey the law first before asking the police for assistance, says Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to the Bersih 5 rally organisers.

The organisers for tomorrow’s rally must do this before asking the police to facilitate a different time and date for the Red Shirts counter-rally.

“People who want to ask for protection have to obey the law first. If they don’t obey the law, why ask for protection?” he said at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here after launching the ‘Palestine Tidak Dilupakan’ campaign.

Earlier, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreevenasan said there were existing legal provisions that can be applied to prevent the Bersih rally and the Red Shirts counter-rally being held simultaneously at the same venue.

Ambiga cited Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which stipulates that the officer-in-charge of a police district will give an alternative for a counter-assembly to be organised at another time, date or place, if the officer finds that it will lead to conflict.

Asked about PKR Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli’s comments that the safety of the police was at risk unless Khalid stopped the Red Shirts from holding a counter-rally against Bersih 5 tomorrow, Khalid said both groups should be stopped as both were not in accordance with the law.

“We should stop both red, yellow and even if there are any other colours coming. We should stop it because it is not in accordance with the law,” he said.

On police preparations or any pre-emptive action, Khalid refused to reveal details but said police were ready to face any possibility.

“There is no need to ask me what the police would do. Whatever action we take will be in accordance with the law,” he said.

Asked whether police would be closing any roads during the rally, Khalid said: “If there is need, we will announce it.”