KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Organisers of the Bersih rally in Malaysia have assured the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that they would not enter Dataran Merdeka, venue of rehearsals and preparations to celebrate the country's Independence Day.

Suhakam Commissioner James Nayagam said the Bersih marshals were doing a good job by controlling the crowd and stopping the protesters from crossing the line.

He said the commission was acting as mediator for Bersih and the police, adding that the police had given the assurance that they would not take action if the protesters did not break the law.

Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah said on Friday that rally participants would no longer converge at Dataran Merdeka, or Merdeka Square, but would instead gather around the historic field.

"We will not be going through the places blocked by police as well as not entering Dataran Merdeka, out of respect for the rehearsals and preparation to celebrate Merdeka (on Monday)," she said.

The police had barred Bersih supporters from entering the square as Bersih did not obtain approval from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to hold the rally there.