On 10 May 2025, youth groups Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia and the Federation of Malaysian Youth held a book reading and discussion event at the Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur. During the event, eight to ten enforcement officers—comprising five to seven plainclothed police personnel and three officers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)—approached the group and began questioning the organisers. A senior officer from Dang Wangi’s Criminal Investigation Department asked if prior notice had been submitted to the district police chief, referring to the event as an “assembly”, and proceeded to question the organisers about the event’s purpose, the books being read, and the participants, including whether any were current university students.
Organisers were told they could continue until 10.30pm but must then disperse. When asked to explain the legal basis, the officer did not respond directly, instead citing the group’s public event poster and number of social media followers. He explained that the group’s platform was routinely monitored, and that they came to the event to assess whether any “unpublicised elements” were being discussed. One representative was asked for identification for the officer’s internal report.
Two to three days later, Dang Wangi police denied involvement, stating that their officers patrol the area in uniform and asserting that “there is no law prohibiting people from meeting friends and reading books in public spaces,” and that the event did not constitute a large-scale gathering that violated any regulation. DBKL defended its actions by citing by-laws requiring the mayor’s approval for all activities at Independence Square, and that events involving public assemblies must also secure police approval under the Local Government Act. It also emphasised that early applications are necessary given Dataran Merdeka’s iconic status, to “avoid future misunderstandings and ensure the smooth running of programmes.”