Roadblocks mounted by the police were lifted by 7pm yesterday and traffic began streaming back into the city though law enforcement officers were stationed at strategic locations to maintain peace and order.
The situation in KL is back to normal as we know it.
Objectives were met as what The Star reported:
EVERYBODY seems to have achieved what they wanted over yesterday's Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur.
The demonstrators had no access to any particular venue, so they gathered anyway en route.
And so they declared the rally a success.
The police had also imposed a 22-hour lockdown of the city.
They, too, declared the day a success.
The Federal Government had observed the minimal participation of the public and declared yesterday a success too.
There seems to be no rancour or bitter recriminations.
Since everybody appears to have got what they wanted, perhaps the country as a whole can now move on.
Looks like a fun outing for some, waving yellow flowers and all. When was the last time you sang the national anthem?
Street rallies though their intentions may be honorable are a tricky thing. Routines are affected even in the littlest ways. A family friend who has a roaring motorbike business in Chinatown has had to shutter his shop to stay safe. He would have lost some business during the rally. Elsewhere including Bukit Bintang and Pudu, shops were closed. Also, hundreds were stranded when roller shutters started coming down in KL Sentral. Also seen stuck in the crowd were travellers who arrived from KLIA via the KLIA Express while a few tourists were seen taking pictures at Dataran Merdeka before the rally began and under the watchful eyes of FRU who were already on standby.
Certainly one for the album..
Let's take a look at a couple of videos and locations around the city. This one shows the start of the rally..
This one the KTM train station..
This is a shot of the standoff at Pudu near Puduraya. The crowd was not able to get through the police barricade on their way to Stadium Merdeka.
Here's a map of where the rallies took place. The heavy downpour did not dampen spirits.
Click image to enlarge
The rally was scheduled for 2pm and to end at 4pm. Shortly before 4pm, the police issued a warning for the group to disperse.
Bersih steering committee member Haris Ibrahim then asked the crowd to disperse as he said Bersih 2.0 had achieved its objective of gathering at the stadium.
Elsewhere, pro-Bersih rallies were also held in Melbourne and London. A number of Malaysians in Melbourne held a peaceful rally there to show support for Bersih 2.0. They wore yellow T-shirts, held up banners and placards before reciting the Rukun Negara and chanting “Daulat Tuanku”.
In London, a “solidarity walk” took place.
In KL, a total of 1,667 people were arrested for taking part in various rallies in the city, said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar. Those arrested, including 151 women and 16 children, were taken to Pulapol, the police training centre located in Jalan Semarak where they were provided with food and given medical treatment. Anwar Ibrahim was hurt at KL Sentral. He sustained injuries to his head and knees and underwent a CT scan as he felt nausea and dizziness.
Besides Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, those picked up included PKR's Gombak MP Azmin Ali, Subang MP R. Sivarasa and Batu MP Tian Chua, and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy Mohamad Sabu and vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub.
By 11pm, all those detained were released.
The situation in KL is back to normal.
Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!
Source of videos and images is The Star, including the top image which shows children playing in the wading pool at the KLCC park in the vicinity of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Read also:
Current situation in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is deserted today / Road closures - Bersih rally, Jul 9
Public transportation and Diversion of buses in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (Bersih rally)
Yellow is a tricky color to wear now
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