KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — PAS has decided not to deploy its usual troops for Bersih 4, saying today that although it supports the rally’s objectives, the party leadership found the chosen dates for the event inappropriate as it would be too close to Merdeka Day.
It also said its members will be busy with preparations for other party-related events scheduled to go on next month and in October.
But according to PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, although the party will not formally mobilise its members for the overnight rally, it will send its representatives to indicate it supports Bersih 2.0’s demands.
“PAS is committed to the struggle for democracy, as demanded by Bersih. This includes reforms to the electoral roll, free access to the media as well as fair, free and truthful coverage, strengthening public institutions and rejecting corrupt practices, among others.
“A peaceful gathering where the public gets to express their views freely and without provocation is one aspect of democracy that should not be hindered,” he said in the statement.
Takiyuddin added, however, that while the party supports such gatherings, it believes that public peace and national stability must be preserved at all times.
“On the Bersih 4.0 rally to be held this August 29 and 30, PAS has decided not to mobilise its members and supporters. Instead, we will send our representative as a sign of support for Bersih’s demands, especially on free and fair elections,” he said.
Takiyuddin then listed the four reasons behind the party leadership’s decision to skip Bersih 4.
“The date of Bersih 4.0 is just a day away from the Merdeka Day celebration on August 31, which is inappropriate,” he said.
He added that PAS members will be preoccupied with preparations for other party-related events like Kongres Rakyat on September 12, Himpunan 60K (H60K) this October 17, and two other nationwide events, namely the “Siri Jelajah Munaqasyah Ucapan Dasar Presiden” and “Perhimpunan Istiqamah Hingga Kemenangan” that will be held every weekend from October 3.
Last week, PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi claimed that PAS was not invited for the Bersih rally this time around despite being actively involved in the previous rallies.
However, the Temerloh MP later left it to party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to decide if the Islamist party would be mobilising its members for the rally.
In response, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah pointed out that the group had invited political parties from all sides of the divide to support its August 29 and 30 demonstration, including the ruling party Barisan Nasional (BN).
Bersih 2.0’s latest rally dubbed “Bersih 4” will go on this weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching in Sarawak, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and several other cities across the globe.
The event’s objective is to press for reforms and to demand Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation amid the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.
