Gerakan Youth’s attempt to submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong calling for the repealing of the Internal Security Act failed today as the palace was not given prior written notice.

NONE An entourage from the party's youth wing, led by its leader Lim Si Pin, tried to hand the memorandum at the palace gates, but was turned down by palace staff.

“Gerakan Youth will make an official application to the palace to receive our memorandum as soon as possible... We have to respect palace protocol,” Lim later told reporters.

The memorandum was not distributed to the press and will only be made public once it is submitted to the palace, said Lim.

Lim said the memorandum handover was scheduled for today because Gerakan Youth was pulling out of the anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) rally tomorrow, organised by the Abolish the ISA Movement (or GMI based on its Malay acronym).

NONE “We will not participate in the rally because the Kuala Lumpur police have declared it illegal,” Lim stressed repeatedly.

However, he added that the movement was still in solidarity with GMI’s cause, because feedback received from the public against the ISA.

“We want to show (the King) how serious Gerakan Youth is about the ISA. We are presenting to (his highness) feedback from the rakyat about the ISA,” he added.

Procession abandoned

Asked about the degree of public resentment against the ISA, Lim replied in jest that he was not a “polling company” but the sentiments against the law, which allows detention without trial, was “quite strong”.

NONE To a question, Lim said he was confident that his members would heed police warnings and not attend tomorrow’s the rally.

“I think none of us will be joining because all of us are here,” he said.

Earlier, Lim together with 20 of his members gathered at a nearby commercial building, intending to march to the palace.

After a brief discussion with the police, Lim abandoned the plan and ordered his men to proceed to the palace by car.

NONE “I don’t want to argue with them, get into your cars,” Lim was heard telling his men in Cantonese.

However, when the group reached the palace, only Lim to was allowed to speak to palace officials.

Two observers from the Bar Council Human Rights Committee Roger Chan and Saha Deva were also present at the palace.

About 50 police stood watch in front of the palace and cordoned off the parking bays which are usually filled with tourist buses.

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