Cops to call up organisers of Istana Negara gathering

KUALA LUMPUR: Organisers of Wednesday's (Aug 24) gathering involving supporters of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in front of Istana Negara will be called up by police to assist investigation under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Amihizam Abdul Shukor said police personnel were deployed in front of Gate 3 of Istana Negara at about 2pm on Wednesday due to the gathering and subsequent handing over of a memorandum by Pertubuhan Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia (PJPNM).

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"About 300 people clad in black had also gathered while shouting ‘Hidup Najib dan Bossku’.

"There were no notices to the police for the gathering.

"We will call up the organisers and record their statement," he said when contacted on Thursday (Aug 25).

He also advised the public to be wary over any act or speech that might jeopardise public order.

"We urge the public not to be involved in any gathering that did not get approval from the authorities.

"Those with information can contact KL police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or any nearest police station," he said.

Supporters of Najib gathered in the hundreds outside the Istana Negara on Wednesday afternoon, as they sought royal intervention into the former prime minister's corruption conviction.

Representatives of the group who called themselves "Pertubuhan Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia" submitted a memorandum to palace officials.

"We have submitted a 'referendum' to Istana Negara with two things that we are demanding.

"We want a royal pardon to be given to Najib and we want Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to meet the King and present the evidence that there was a conflict of interest in regards to Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali," said the group's leader Syed Muhammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz to reporters.

Syed Muhammad Imran and a few other members of the group were allowed to enter the Palace compound to submit the memorandum.

Other protesters gathered outside the Palace gates, causing slight congestion in the area, while a large police presence stood by and kept a close watch.

The group dispersed after the press conference was over.

Najib has been ordered to serve his 12-year jail sentence following the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction on Tuesday (Aug 23).

The conviction and sentence were imposed on Najib in the High Court on July 28, 2020 by Mohd Nazlan.