'Black 505' rally to hit KL on June 15

'Black 505' rally to hit KL on June 15

VIDEO | 1.12 min
Pakatan Rakyat will hold a rally in Kuala Lumpur to protest alleged electoral fraud in the 13th general election that was held on May 5.

"We have decided to support an initiative to hold a peaceful rally in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of June 15," PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference after the Pakatan leadership council meeting this afternoon.

NONEAnwar said the coalition will engage with inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar and security agencies to ensure that the rally is peaceful.

Asked if the rally would be held in a stadium or it would be a street demonstration, he said the rally secretariat would furnish details in due course.

The June 15 rally is to continue on a series of protests around the country against alleged electoral fraud. Dubbed ‘Black 505', it began in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, on May 8.

Anwar also announced that Pakatan would hold a day-long convention for all its MPs and state assemblypersons on June 23, also in Kuala Lumpur.

The coalition will further back Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's suggestion that a state committee of inquiry be set up in Pakatan-led states to investigate allegations of electoral fraud.

However, this would be subject to the consideration of the three states - Penang, Selangor and Kelantan - as to whether such a committee was necessary.

Private Member’s Bill on IPCMC

                       
Anwar also condemned the recent string of custodial deaths, the latest involving engineer P Karuna Nithi, who was the third such victim in 11 days.

azlan"We had condemned it when it happened with A Kugan (right) but yet it still continues to take place. We will continue our efforts to push for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (to be set up).

"In the meantime, immediate action must be taken by the home minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) against those responsible for the deaths. Stop giving excuses.”

DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang, who was present, said Pakatan has agreed to form a six-member committee to prepare and table a Private Member’s Bill on the IPCMC during the coming sitting of Parliament.

"The committee will comprise two MPs from each of Pakatan’s (component) parties to look at tabling (the) Bill," he said.

He reiterated his hope for another 23 BN MPs to vote alongside Pakatan's 89 MPs, for a simple majority to get the Bill through.

Also present at the press conference was PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

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