KUALA LUMPUR: Police expect about 300,000 people to gather at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday (July 19) to watch the FIFA World Cup final on what is expected to be the country’s largest outdoor screen.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said the public viewing event will begin at 8pm and continue until the match ends in the early hours of Monday (July 20).
“We expect about 300,000 people that night alone. We hope to fill Dataran Merdeka,” he told reporters after a Uniti Merdeka run organised by Yayasan Prihatin Nasional in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur police, various government agencies and 13 ministries at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday (July 18).
Comm Fadil invited members of the public, especially Kuala Lumpur residents, to attend the World Cup final screening, which will feature what organisers say will be the largest screen ever set up at Dataran Merdeka and which they hope will qualify for the Malaysia Book of Records.
Earlier on Saturday, about 2,000 participants took part in a 5km community run held as part of the programme, which also featured a lucky draw with a motorcycle as the grand prize.
“Everything went smoothly and we appreciate the cooperation and support from everyone who participated.
“This programme provides a platform for the police to engage with the community. The police and the community are inseparable,” he said.
Comm Fadil added that the programme will continue until Sunday, culminating in the public screening of the FIFA World Cup final at Dataran Merdeka.