KOTA KINABALU: An anti-corruption rally will proceed as planned in front of Menara Kinabalu on Tuesday (Dec 31) despite police advising organisers to call it off.
Suara Mahasiswa said that the rally would go ahead in accordance with Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.
The group criticised Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun for saying police would not allow the rally to proceed as it had not been approved.
"The Sabah Police Commissioner's statement is unconstitutional," Suara Mahasiswa said in a statement on Monday (Dec 30).
The rally's organisers, the secretariat, said they would lodge a police report and pursue legal action against Jauteh for allegedly causing public confusion.
Earlier, Jauteh said that demonstrations would not be allowed at Menara Kinabalu on New Year's eve (Dec 31) due to the ongoing Karnival Ria.
He noted that two groups, Suara Mahasiswa and Bangkit Sabahan, had planned rallies on the same day, with one aiming to hold theirs at Menara Kinabalu.
Jauteh stressed that no approval had been granted for these gatherings and stated that, for safety reasons, police would prevent any rally from encroaching on the carnival area, which is expected to attract families and children.
He urged organisers to cancel their plans and consider other platforms to deliver their message.
Bangkit Sabahan is expected to hold its demonstration at Anjung Selera in Likas.
