DBKK use potted plants to deter Sabah rally

Himpunan Hijau 3.0 protesters lashed out at the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) for abuse of its powers and resources by placing potted plants on the concrete spectator terraces around Padang Merdeka to prevent the public from sitting there from 2pm to 4pm on April 28.

While the Bersih 3.0 rally was led by local opposition leaders, the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 was led by non-politicians such as Malaysian Nature Society and Sabah Environmental Protection Society members under the Sabah Green Movement like SM Muthu (pic) to protest against the Lynas project in Pahang.

Muthu blasted the DBKK for wasting ratepayers’ monies at a press conference at the end of the Bersih 3.0 / Himpunan Hijau 3.0 rally on April 28.

He called on journalists to note and take photographs of how the DBKK misused its power to ‘occupy first’ even the spectator terraces with hundreds of potted plants on the spectator terraces and stairs to prevent people from sitting there.

“If not for our presence today, the public attendance at the last minute concocted DBKK Safe City Campaign to pre-empt the Bersih 3.0 event would be a washout,” said Muthu.

“The DBKK action shows that it has no confidence in its officers and the police to prevent people from sitting at the spectator terraces because that was what they were built for and the DBKK has got no valid or legal reason other than to deploy the hundreds of pots of plants wasting hours of manpower and resources to do so.

“It is so silly that it even discouraged other people who came for the DBKK event from watching the performances put up by the uniformed agencies invited by DBKK,” said Kassim Ismail, a protestor who came with his family.

“The DBKK as a public service body displaying such highhandedness today to prevent just two hours sit down peaceful protest is regrettable,” said James Kwan, a protester.

“Its leadership lost a chance to be closer to the ratepayers and the public,” said Irene Ginibun, a mother with her teenager daughter.

After their sit-in peaceful protest, the participants helped to clean up the padang and shake the hands of many uniformed personnel thanking for their understanding.