KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — Bersih 2.0 criticised today the sedition investigation against the activist who started an online petition in support of the Citizens’ Declaration that calls for the prime minister’s resignation.

The electoral reform group told the police to focus on reforming the force, instead of interfering in political matters.

“Bersih again reiterates the call for immediate institutional reforms to stop the abuse of power.

“Such intimidations will not curb the power of the people and critics of corruption,” the Bersih 2.0 steering committee said in a statement.

The police recorded activist Azrul Mohd Khalib’s statement yesterday in a sedition probe over his campaign on petition website www.change.org, which urges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step down, that has recorded over 51,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The online petition was in support of the Citizens’ Declaration launched on March 4 by the bipartisan Save Malaysia movement led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and comprises politicians on both sides of the divide and activists.

Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is also part of the Save Malaysia movement, told news portal Malaysiakini yesterday that up to eight activists and journalists may be investigated by the police for reporting on the Citizens’ Declaration.