'Save Felda' NGO gets nod to march to palace

Police have allowed the Gerakan Selamatkan Felda (GSF) group to march to Istana Negara tomorrow, GSF coordinator Mazlan Aliman said this evening.

After a nearly two-hour-long discussion, police agreed to let the protesters march using a side road, Jalan Sri Hartamas, rather than the main road Jalan Duta, in order to prevent traffic congestion, Mazlan said.

Also, eight representatives from the group would be allowed to enter the palace to hand over their petition, he told reporters at the Kepong police station.

Seven GSF representatives met with the police, who included Sentul OCPD Zakaria Pagan and Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari.

The Himpunan Oren Selamatkan Felda (Orange Rally to Save Felda) is in protest at the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), and is led by Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman (second from left).

It will begin at the Federal Territories Mosque at 2pm, and protesters will march to the Istana Negara.

There, the eight representatives will be escorted by police into the palace to officially submit their petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, seeking his intervention to have the FGV delisted from Bursa Malaysia.

The police have also agreed to let participants park their vehicles at the nearby National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia (Matrade), where they will patrol the area to ensure security.

In addition, about 1,000 members of PAS’ Unit Amal will be on hand to keep the march orderly.

“But we leave it to the police to take the necessary action against anyone who makes provocations,” said Mazlan, adding that GSF would do their best to control the crowd.

'No other avenue to air concerns'

The police were reluctant to grant them permission at first, according to him, but eventually relented after they stressed that they had no other avenue to air their concerns.

“We stressed that we have negotiated in good faith, but have not obtained any response from the government to this day,” he added.

He was confident the palace officials were keeping up with the issue, and would observe the crowd and large number of vehicles parked nearby tomorrow.

Mazlan is particularly grateful that they have been given the green light, as he was told that the police had received more than 70 objections to the planned rally.

“We would like to thank the police for their cooperation,” he said.

The group will hold another press conference at the palace gates tomorrow, where the media will also be allowed to gather, he added.