KUCHING, Aug 20 — The organiser of the Sarawak edition of Bersih 4 Kuching said today it will stick with Padang Merdeka here as its venue for its August 29 and 30 rally, despite the government’s refusal to award it a permit.
The organising committee’s representative Karen Shepperd said they had met with Kuching district police chief Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Roslan Bek Ahmad and claimed the latter had not objected but advised them to find an alternative venue.
“Padang Merdeka is a public place and the government’s responsibility is just to take care of the place,” she told reporters here, responding to a refusal by the government to permit the organisers to hold the gathering.
She said Bersih 4 Kuching will be held concurrently with those in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, from 2pm on August 29 until midnight on August 30.
She said she had heard Padang Merdeka will closed on August 29 and 30, but added that none of the organisers have received any official reply from Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), the custodian of the venue.
