The activists gathering under the umbrella of NGO Bersih 3.0 have been banned by authorities from demonstrating at the Independence square. But the organisers refused to look at other venues.
Police resorted to firing tear gas and spraying water cannon after a group of demonstrators broke through a barrier at the barricaded Independence Square defying a ban to hold the rally at the venue.
At least 25,000 demonstrators gathered to take part in the opposition backed rally. Some online news portals said there were at least 80,000 to 100,000 people present.
The scene was similar to a demonstration by the same group with the same demands last July, when police sprayed water cannon and opened tear gas.
Activists, including lawyers, academics, opposition supporters, have alleged the Election Commission is biased and claimed that voter lists had fraudulent voters.
Bersih (meaning clean in Malay language) demonstrators began gathering at designated locations in the city early this morning with police monitoring the situation.
Bersih chairman S Ambiga, a prominent ethnic Indian lawyer, met with Bersih supporters at the nearby Central Market, a popular tourist haunt.
Volunteers were selling yellow "Angry Birds" balloons to the public, with slogans such as "clean elections", "stop Lynas", "Bersih 428" and "save our children" written on the balloons.
Lynas is a rare earth plant which is being proposed to be set up by an Australian miner and opposed by many in the country.
Malaysian officials yesterday sealed off parts of the square where activists wanted to hold the rally.
Police got a magistrate court's order forbidding people from assembling at the square.
An estimated 20,000 people marched last July to make similar demands on electoral reforms.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the crowds and briefly arrested about 1,600 demonstrators.
The organisers also want changes to ensure that citizens living abroad can cast ballots, international observers for the polls and fairer access for all political parties to the government-linked media, reports said.
Prime Minister Najib Razak has said Malaysia's current laws are sufficient to prevent electoral irregularities. MORE PTI JB ASK
