A massive function at Pantai Dalam scheduled for tomorrow featuring former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has hit a snag as the police have refused to issue a permit for the event.

Brickfields district police chief ACP Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said that the application for a permit has been rejected as the organisers had failed to obtain permission from the private owner to use the venue, which is an open parking lot of an apartment block.

"The police have rejected the application because the organisers have yet to receive permission from the management of NPE Property for the use of the venue," he said in a Aug 17 letter addressed to event organiser Mohd Zaman Md Tasi

The owner of the apartment block, NPE Property Development had told the organisers in separate letter that it would not allow opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat to use the carpark of Perumahan Pantai Permai in Kampung Kerinchi for the gathering.

The company said that it would "deprive residents their parking space and cause crowd-related problems".

"As a developer responsible for the facilities and safety of Perumahan Pantai Permai, we regret to inform you that we cannot accede to your request," said NEP properties director Neoh Soon Hiong in a letter dated Aug 18.

Mohd Zaman, however, insisted that the function would go on despite the lack of a police permit as the designated venue was an open space and that more than 200 volunteers would be at hand to ensure security and smooth traffic flow.

.

Not the first time

He advised members of the public to use public transport to go to the event and to come early.

Mohd Zaman said the nearest Light Rail Transit station to the venue is Putra LRT's Universiti station.

He added that this wasn't the first time venue owners had come under political pressure to stop such events.

"Lembah Pantai is a traditional opposition stronghold and opposition functions here often face plenty of restrictions," he said.

The highlight of tomorrow's event will see Anwar, who is PKR adviser, giving his take on former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's spat with his handpicked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The three-hour event starts at 9pm and organisers are expecting a crowd of 5,000.