Bersih fails to get permit for Stadium Merdeka rally

Election reform pressure group Bersih 2.0 has clarified in a tweet message that police have rejected its application for a permit to hold its rally in Stadium Merdeka.

Bersih had earlier sent out this message:

"GREAT NEWS! Dang Wangi police station called Bersih, asked them to pick up permit for rally in Stadium MERDEKA! Now falls to PM & Stadium Management to make appropriate arrangements." 

However, half-an-hour later, a correction was posted:

"Sorry all, spoke too soon: Bersih rep asked 3 times 'Is this a permit?' Police: 'Yes', but now, police say 'Actually it is a letter denying permission'." 

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh told Malaysiakini that a permit had not been issued.

"As far as I know, no permits have been issued for July 9," he said.

Pressed on the matter, he conceded that the first person to know would be the Dang Wangi district police chief Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, but that a police permit was still unlikely.

"The best person to ask is Zulkarnain. But I just got off the phone with him. He didn't mention anything about approving the permit," Amar said.