KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 ― Umno’s Datuk Ahmad Maslan questioned Bersih 2.0 today if the reason the polls reforms group refused to hold the upcoming Bersih 4 rally at a stadium was so that police’s “preventive” actions against demonstrators on the street could be sensationalised and made viral.
The international trade and industry deputy minister also questioned why Bersih 2.0 wanted to make life difficult for traders and for citizens who just wanted to enjoy peace, and to create negative perceptions of the country towards investors.
“Why don’t you just choose to gather at a stadium for Bersih 4.0? Is it because if it’s in a stadium, there will be no police preventive actions and controls that can be made viral and sensationalised by your media friends for the world to see?” Ahmad said in a statement.
Ahmad also said the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) clearly prohibited street demonstrations and protests and claimed that police approval was necessary for assemblies.
City police have prohibited the overnight Bersih 4 rally scheduled on the streets of the capital city this weekend, claiming that the organisers have failed to issue a “complete notice” of the rally to the police as required under the PAA, according to local daily The Star.
The Star also reported Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru as saying that police permits are not required for an assembly under the PAA.
The Bersih 4 rally, which will be held in the capital city, Kuching in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, aims to press for institutional reforms and for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation over his handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.
