The police have their strategies to thwart an illegal assembly scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur on July 9, city acting police chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh said today.

He said the police would also take appropriate action to ensure that the assembly, believed to have been planned by two quarters, did not recur.

To date, he said that no party had sought a permit to hold the assembly, adding that the police had received 800 reports against the proposed rally.

The reports were lodged by several parties, including non-governmental organisations, traders, associations, politicians and individuals.

“Thus, if they (organisers) still want to hold a rally, it can be classified as illegal assembly,” Amar Singh told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has objected to the scheduled illegal assembly as it would affect the tourism industry.

Its president, Mohd Khalid Harun, said such a politically-motivated assembly would depress the arrival of tourists to the country.

Citing Thailand as an example where street demonstrations brought its tourism industry to a standstill, he said tourists would only go to a stable and safe country to enjoy its attractions.

He was speaking to reporters after the opening of the ‘Annual Matta Conference: Education and Training - Catalyst of Excellence in Tourism Industry’ at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

The conference was officially opened by Deputy Tourism Minister Dr James Dawos Mamit.

- Bernama

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