Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the neighbourhood of Dataran Merdeka last night in an early warning that the crowd at Bersih's third rally may match or exceed that of the previous assembly for free and fair elections held on July 9 last year.
From 8pm onwards, hundreds, many of whom were dressed in the electoral reform movement's yellow uniform, began to gather into groups on streets including Jalan Sultan in Chinatown as well as Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja which lead to the historic square.
By 11pm, the group near Dataran Merdeka easily surpassed 1,000 according to numerous eye-witness reports although those at Jalan Sultan dispersed around midnight after an impromptu rendition of Negaraku, the national anthem.
Although many had dispersed by 1am, many were still turning up after that. "Everybody wants to be closest to Dataran" when the rally starts proper, said one participant.
Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan told The Malaysian Insider early this morning "the Bersih feeling is in the air in Kuala Lumpur."
"It is a feeling of purpose and of hope. As we gather later today we will speak with one voice in claiming what is rightfully ours... democratic space, clean and fair elections and a clean environment. We will also claim back the right to shape our future," she said.
From 8pm onwards, hundreds, many of whom were dressed in the electoral reform movement's yellow uniform, began to gather into groups on streets including Jalan Sultan in Chinatown as well as Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja which lead to the historic square.
By 11pm, the group near Dataran Merdeka easily surpassed 1,000 according to numerous eye-witness reports although those at Jalan Sultan dispersed around midnight after an impromptu rendition of Negaraku, the national anthem.
Although many had dispersed by 1am, many were still turning up after that. "Everybody wants to be closest to Dataran" when the rally starts proper, said one participant.
Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan told The Malaysian Insider early this morning "the Bersih feeling is in the air in Kuala Lumpur."
"It is a feeling of purpose and of hope. As we gather later today we will speak with one voice in claiming what is rightfully ours... democratic space, clean and fair elections and a clean environment. We will also claim back the right to shape our future," she said.
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