KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Some 300 people took part in a Workers' Day rally at Dataran Merdeka yesterday.

Despite earlier warning by authorities that it was an illegal rally, there were no incidents after police and the organisers, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas reached an agreement on the 1.5km march from Dataran Merdeka to a school hall in Jalan Hang Jebat.

Police allowed the participants to march two-by-two to their designated venue.

Several hours earlier, police and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel had cordoned off Jalan Raja in front of Dataran Merdeka.

Those heading for the rally were forced to gather at Leboh Pasar Besar, near the Bar Council building instead of Dataran Merdeka, while police called in several of the rally leaders for a short discussion.

FRU officers then began to remove the blockades, after which the rally leaders told participants they could march in pairs.

Cheers resonated from the crowd which consisted of non-governmental organisation members, workers, together with their famililes and children, observers from the Bar Council and several opposition party leaders, as well as their supporters.

About 50 children, aged between six and 14, were also there, wearing bandanas bearing the words "No Low Pay".

Around 10am, the crowd began to walk peacefully in pairs to the SMJK (C) Confucian's Hall at Jalan Hang Jebat under the watchful eyes of uniformed policemen stationed on major junctions.

The crowd joined some 500 more people who were waiting at the school hall there.

They were entertained by a short sketch of the workers' struggle for their rights, followed by speeches by Pakatan Rakyat representatives.

Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa Dr Lo'Lo' Mohd Ghazali congratulated the organisers for their successful negotiation with the authorities resulting in the joyous celebration.

On their demands for the fulfillment of election promises, Dr Lo'Lo' said she would do her best to highlight their plight in Parliament.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat representative Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin said PKR would continue to improve the working and living conditions in the five states under the coalition's rule.

Klang MP Charles Santiago of DAP said Pakatan Rakyat had introduced the minimum wage of RM900 in government-linked companies in the five states.

Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said the gathering was illegal and police would investigate it. -NST