Police in Malaysia have banned a public meeting due to take place today Wednesday about the water shortages around the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The authorities say the meeting could be a threat to national security.

The leader of the opposition Democratic Action party, Lim Kit Siang, condemned the move as undemocratic.

Water supplies in the capital have been badly hit for several months due to a drought which has blamed on the El Nino weather phenomenon.