KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional Youth will cooperate with the police to ensure the Save Malaysia Movement rally planned for Saturday (Sept 16) runs smoothly, says its chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
He said discussions between the coalition and the police began on Monday (Sept 11).
"Tomorrow (Sept 13), Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal and I will go to the Dang Wangi police station to give our statements.
"We will use this opportunity to hold further discussions with the police for their cooperation to ensure our event runs smoothly," he said at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday (Sept 12).
Ahmad Fadhli said they were also open to changing the location for the rally.
It was initially scheduled to be held in the vicinity of the Sogo complex.
"We were told to hold the rally at a bigger venue. We have also discussed changing the location to the front of the Selangor Foundation," he said, adding that details would be announced from time to time.
"I am confident that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government is one that upholds reformation and give their full cooperation for this rally to be successful unless they are afraid.
"If there are no provocations or obstacles, many youths nationwide are expected to attend the rally," the Pasir Mas MP added.
Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Ahmad Fadhli asked the government to ease the process for Saturday's demonstration.
"If you want us to change the location, we will do so. We just want (an avenue) to vent the people's dissatisfaction," he said while debating the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review.
He said protesters would adhere to all regulations while taking to the streets.
He also reminded the ruling government had championed the freedom of demonstrations before it came to power.
Ahmad Fadhli also questioned if police permits were still needed for street demonstrations, adding that the government should clarify on that.
On Sunday (Sept 10), Ahmad Fadhli said they would hold a gathering on Sept 16 over Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds granted by the High Court.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham also said he had been called by the police to give his statement on Wednesday over the planned rally on Sept 16.
