[PHOTOS] Bersih Supporters Protest Against Electoral Map Changes Outside The Parliament
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was expected to table the redelineation report at 11.30am today.
By Jia Vern Tham — 28 Mar 2018, 04:10 PM
Earlier today, about 200 Bersih supporters gathered outside the Parliament to protest the tabling of Election Commission's redelineation report
According to The Straits Times, Pakatan Harapan members and supporters also joined the protest.
Bersih aimed to submit a memorandum on the redelineation report to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
theSundaily reported that the opposition claims the redelineation will benefit the ruling coalition by pushing opposition-leaning voters into opposition seats to create "super-constituencies", and redrawing electoral boundaries to create more ethnic majorities.
By 7am, Bersih supporters began gathering at the National Monument
Malay Mail Online reported that around 50 policemen, including the Light Strike Force, were keeping watch on the protesters.
Protesters were not allowed to march on to the Parliament, which was about one kilometre away.
Protesters gathered at the National Monument on Jalan Parlimen this morning.
Image via Malay Mail OnlineOpposition leaders began showing up at the protest just past 9.30am
New Straits Times reported that the leaders spotted include Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.
Just past 10am, China Press reported that PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived at the protest.
Defying police orders, protesters marched past barricades and headed on to the Parliament at about 11am
At around 11.30am, police allowed 10 Bersih representatives to walk into the Parliament to hand the memorandum to Dewan Rakyat
The representatives include former and current Bersih chairmen Maria Chin Abdullah and Shahrul Aman.
China Press reported that the group of 10 was adamant about walking into the Dewan Rakyat with the memorandum, instead of handing it over to any representative of the Parliament.
The crowd began dispersing after the memorandum was handed over to a representative from Dewan Rakyat
After the memorandum was sent in, Berita Daily reported that the protest ended peacefully following an address from Bersih chairman Shahrul Aman.
"We negotiated at least three times with the police before 10 of us were allowed to hand over the memorandum," Shahrul was quoted as saying by Berita Daily.
He also informed Bersih supporters that another rally will be held on 14 April in the city centre.