The Federal Reserve Unit moved in on supporters of Bersih who were gathered to start their march to Dataran Merdeka and on to Istana Negara. Water canons and tear gas cannisters were fired into the crowd, one hitting a photographer, John Beh in the chest.

The police cordoned off Dataran Merdeka and many from Masjid Jamek did not make the march to the Istana but instead "played" hide-and-seek with police from Masjid Jamek to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and back.