KOTA KINABALU, Aug 27 — The state government’s offer for the use of the Penampang stadium for the Sabah edition of this weekend’s Bersih 4 rally is likely just a ploy to confuse and waste organisers’ time, the state chapter of Bersih 2.0 said.
Its chairman Jannie Lasimbang said that the group was never previously approached with the offer for the stadium, which is located some 10km from the city.
As such, she said Sabah Bersih was not inclined to consider the offer now.
“We never had any formal offer from the authorities. From what we can gather, they are going all out to stop us from this gathering, and the offer is just another ploy to confuse us,” said Lasimbang
“I spent a lot of time calling various ‘suggestions’ that they gave us for the May Day rally only to be told it’s not possible,” she said.
She was referring to the group’s previous rally this year on May Day that was planned at Padang Merdeka but was later slapped with a court ban that saw various spaces within the city closed off to demonstrators. The court ban was, however, subsequently deemed expired by the court.
Yesterday, Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang said that the state government “have made available” the Penampang Stadium to the organisers of the rally on August 29, although it did not agree with the objectives of the rally.
He advised them to formally apply to the Penampang District Council for use of the stadium.
“They’re asking us to write in to request now but there’s no guarantee we will get it. That’s not a sincere offer,” said Lasimbang adding that Sabah Bersih had asked Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir for space for the event but was not given any options.
“Furthermore, we want to hold our event in the city itself, which is the state capital, and in an open space to make impact and it is within our rights to use public space, but we were told no,” she told reporters after meeting with the city police chief.
According to Lasimbang, the meeting was to notify police of their plans for the rally, which the latter has deemed “unlawful” without approval from City Hall.
“But they are aware of what we are doing and has acknowledged. Their actions on the day will depend on our conduct. We want to be able to work with them to ensure our safety so we will not breach any barricade they put up,” she said.
The Sabah chapter of Bersih 4 intends to gather supporters at the Sabah Trade Centre open space car park at 12pm onwards and make their way towards Taman Teluk Likas 2, or Likas Bay Park 2, which is further down along the Tanjung Lipat stretch closer to Anjung Senja.
Optimistic that the event will run overnight, Lasimbang said basic necessities will be provided for those who stayed, including canopies and some food and water.
Lasimbang also denied rumours circulating that the rally organisers was giving out money to people attending the event, dismissing it as the work of irresponsible parties who wanted to see the rally fail.
“The messages are ill-intentioned and want to sully the name of the organisers, giving the impression that the rally is funded by DAP,” she said.
“Participants of Bersih 4 come at their own will,” she said, adding that they will be making a police report on the allegations.
