KOTA KINABALU, April 29 — Opposition leader Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said he is baffled as to why he was named on a court order barring Bersih Sabah’s May Day rally here.

He said although he plans on attending the rally, he was not part of the organising team or committee, and had no input into the event.

“I don’t understand why I’m on the list. Maybe they (the authorities) want to scare off our supporters who want to support the cause and they think naming me would intimidate them. That’s the only thing I can think of. But its undemocratic and very unnecessary,” he said.

Jeffrey and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing are two of several opposition leaders named in the court order obtained by the city police to bar any assembly by the group in the city on May 1.

A total of 16 people, mostly opposition politicians and activists were named in the court order and while the public was listed as the 17th.

Jeffrey said that Bersih has always claimed to be non-partisan and although it shared the same values and mission as several opposition parties who will support their cause, this was not a reason to name him in the court order.

He also lambasted the move as another one of the government’s moves to stifle public dissent and refusing freedom of expression.

“People are dissatisfied and looking for ways to voice their unhappiness. The organisers are providing a channel to do this and have asked for permission to hold a peaceful protest, which is allowed under the law,” he said.

The Sabah Reform party president said it was no surprise that the police, in carrying out orders from the government, have resorted to such measures to prevent any form of freedom of expression.

“This is a sign that the country is going down the drain. The police and the government cannot preempt that something bad will happen. It was most likely going to be a peaceful and uneventful rally.

“Maybe now they will instead create a disruption just to prove they are right, “ he added.

The court order covers all major open spaces in the city including Padang Merdeka — where the event was initially planned for — City Park, Segama waterfront, Dataran Bandaraya and Taman Chong Thien Vun and its surroundings.

Notices have been put up in high traffic places around the city discouraging the public from assembling in the named places come May Day.

The rally, supported by some 50 civil society groups, is aiming to gather around 10,000 people for the two-hour event from 3pm to 5pm, this Friday to talk about their grievances on illegal immigrants, land rights, and the newly-implemented goods and services tax among others.