KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — The police were on high alert in Malasian capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday as some local non-governmental groups staged a rally, demanding “fair elections” in the country.

Massive police presence was seen near Merdeka Square, or Independence Square, in the downtown of Kuala Lumpur in the rain and the road traffic, which was usually thin on Saturday and Sunday, snarled around nearby areas.
A police helicopter was seen cycling over the square. At least one hundred demonstrators, who apparently failed to enter the square, were seen marching on foot along a major avenue while several police riding on motorbikes blocked their way ahead.
Sirens of police cars and ambulances were frequently heard near the square.
The authorities and police had reminded the people in recent days not to attend the illegal gathering, which has not been approved by the government.
Malaysian Police Inspector-General Musa Hassan Thursday warned people to stay away from the gathering as it could lead to trouble and disrupt public order.
Local media earlier reported that some non-governmental groups had posted on the Internet that they planned to gather 100,000 people at Merdeka Square on Saturday and march to Istana Negara, or National Palace, to present a memorandum calling for reforms in the country’s election system for fair and clean elections.
As a precautionary measure, local police since Wednesday have tightened checks to screen vehicles, especially motorcycles, which entered and exited the city.