Kuala Lumpur police chief Azmi Abu Kassim today said the police did not have a problem with MPs entering Parliament and had instead assembled outside the august House to stop an “illegal” rally.

This was despite riot police forming a phalanx at the road leading to Parliament, sealing off the entrance and denying the opposition MPs’ bid to enter this morning.

“The police received information that said there will be a ‘Solidarity Gathering with Anwar Ibrahim’ at Parliament today, and we checked with Parliament who told us there is no sitting today.

“Thus, we put up roadblocks to bar vehicles and individuals from entering Parliament. That was the basis for our actions today,” Azmi said in a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters today.