KUALA LUMPUR: Swift action by the Dang Wangi police brought an illegal demonstration by some 20 Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) supporters at Dataran Merdeka to an abrupt end this afternoon.
The group dressed in black, some in PPEs, arrived carrying five statues resembling shrouded corpses, black flags and banners reading "KITA MATI DALAM DERHAKA and #KELUAR DAN LAWAN" to express their dissatisfaction against the government for alleged failure in handling Covid-19 pandemic.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said SSR, a coalition of political parties namely Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (PEJUANG), Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had gathered at Merdeka square opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad building at 2.55pm chanting anti government slogans while carrying effigies which looked like shrouded corpse.
"A Movement Control Order compliance team accompanied by officers from Dang Wangi led by Superintendent Naazron Abdul Yusoff rushed to the scene at 3pm and ordered the group to disperse immediately."
It is learnt that the group read out a poem 'Puisi Darurat' at the gathering, when the authorities arrived and dispersed immediately after that.
"At about 3.10pm, the crowd quietly dispersed without any untoward incidents," he said.
Zainal said police have identified three of the individuals, believed to be among the organisers of today's protest.
"We will be calling them in to facilitate investigation," he said.
He added all those involved will be compounded for breaching the MCO under Article 10 Regulations and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures in Local Areas of Infection) (National Recovery Plan) 2021 i.e. Prohibition of Assembly.