Bersih says will march on without permit

Debra Chong

Ambiga waves as she arrives at the Dang Wangi police station for questioning, June 27, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Despite being hauled up for police questioning today, Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan insists the July 9 march for electoral reforms will continue as planned.

The prominent lawyer said she will also not apply for a police permit to hold the street demonstration as the home minister and the police have made it clear one will not be issued.

She then slammed the authorities for hauling up civil society members campaigning for electoral reform instead of engaging them.

“Instead of threatening people, engage with us,” she urged the authorities, repeating the movement’s statement made last night.

Ambiga also repeatedly called the arrests of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members in Penang during the weekend “ridiculous”, denouncing attempts by various groups to link the minor political group backing Bersih to “communists”.

“I don’t know what it’s about... They are caught in a time warp. Who talks about communists in this day and age?” she quizzed, claiming the arrests were baseless.

The British colonial authorities battled communist terrorists from 1948 to 1960 in a police action called the Emergency and Malaysia later enacted the Internal Security Act (ISA) to allow detention without trial. The Communist Party of Malaysia (CPM) later laid down their weapons in 1989.

“Whoever wants to support Bersih, it’s up to them. It's open to all citizens,” she stressed.

Ambiga, who arrived at the Dang Wangi police station at about 2pm and left nearly two hours later, told reporters she had been questioned on three issues.

The first concerned the Bersih rally launched last week at the Chinese Assembly Hall here; followed by a recent police report in which she was accused of holding an illegal assembly outside the Jalan Travers police station; and the last was about her speech at a PKR-organised event held at the Girl Guides’ Association in Brickfields on June 12.

SAPP supports free and fair election

KOTA KINABALU, June 27, 2011: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth strongly support the efforts of Bersih on their 8 demands which should be acknowledged and respected.

It's Youth Leader, Edward Dagul said that it is the constitutional right of every Malaysian to voice his or her opinion, irrespective of the political inclinations.

"The 8 demands by Bersih should be respected and supported and if the voice is unheard, then the natural tendency of grouping takes over. The voices of the rakyat in wanting a free and fair election should not be stifled.

In the Bersih set up, the steering committee members have continuously stated that they are apolitical. Haris Ibrahim was quoted as saying, We say again and again, Bersih is not pro-Pakatan Rakyat.. Neither are we anti-Barisan Nasional. We are pro-reform."

Edward emphasized that the image of a stronger, independent EC would only help to boost Malaysia's standing as being a proponent to fair, transparent and just governance. The demands by Bersih are similar to the 8 points declaration by the Party especially "that the government shall be of the people and based on Good Governance and Civil Society."

"It is common knowledge to many that the current electoral system is riddled with faults to the extent of being biased to the government. The political gerrymandering of boundaries over the years, as well as the much talked continued presence of phantom voters within the electoral list are but a few of such examples in Sabah. Therefore, the demands by the Bersih organizers are justified and their proactive approach should be commended in making the country a more respected nation.

"Many have complained of the Elections Commission bias and our own experiences in Batu Sapi as well as the recently concluded Sarawak State elections are testament to this. SAPP has made numerous reports of election offences and other irregularities with the Election Commission but unfortunately, till now, no action has been taken.

Dihalau Keluar Masjid Kerana Baju BERSIH

e

DEWAN Pemuda PAS kawasan Sepanggar, Sabah berasa kesal dengan sikap angkuh salah seorang Ahli Jawatankuasa Masjid Bandaraya, Likas, yang menghalau seorang pemuda daripada menunaikan solat di masjid itu semata-mata kerana memakai baju ‘Bersih’. 
 

Pemuda PAS Sepanggar melaporkan kejadian yang berlaku di masjid tersebut kelmarin dapat dilihat oleh seluruh ahli qariah yang turut sama bersolat di masjid tersebut.

Pemuda yang tidak mahu namanya dikenali itu, sememangnya sering bersolat di masjid tersebut telah dihalau keluar dari masjid ketika selesai bersolat Maghrib.

Selain menghalau pemuda tersebut, AJK masjid tersebut telah mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat dengan menuduh pemuda tersebut sebagai munafik.

Tidak cukup dengan kata-kata kesat, beliau turut menolak pemuda tersebut dengan kasar.

Situasi yang memalukan itu akhirnya dileraikan oleh salah seorang ahli kariah yang masuk campur.

Ahli kariah itu dengan nada yang tegas telah menegur AJK masjid tersebut kerana sikapnya yang memalukan itu.

Beliau membela pemuda tadi, dan memarahi AJK masjid tersebut kerana menghalau anak muda dari bersolat semata-mata kerana mamakai baju Bersih.

Justeru, Dewan Pemuda PAS kawasan Sepangar melihat perkara itu sepatutnya tidak berlaku.

Sehubungan itu, DPP Sepangar menggesa agar Jawatankuasa Masjid Bandaraya segera mengambil tindakan terhadap AJK masjid tersebut di atas sikapnya yang merosakan imej Masjid Bandaraya yang sememangnya terkenal di kalangan para pengunjung dan pelancong.

Mengenai himpunan aman Bersih 2.0 yang akan diadakan pada 9 Julai ini, DPP Sepangar menyeru seluruh rakyat Sabah agar berpakaian berwarna kuning dan keluar ke bandar-bandar beramai-ramai bersama keluarga.

(Harakah).

FREEDOM

Bersih denies it’s anti-govt, it wants free and fair elections

Teoh El Sen

PETALING JAYA: A Bersih 2.0 leader today sought to correct a misconception that the movement is anti-government.

“If the government stands for free and fair elections, then we are not anti-government,” said Haris Ibrahim, who sits on the steering committee of Bersih 2.0.

“But if the government is going to stand in the way of free and fair elections, we are against anyone who is against free and fair elections.”

He made his remarks in an interview on FMT RAW, a half-hour online broadcast that made its debut at 3pm today.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently accused Bersih of having a “dirty political agenda” in its plan to rally Malaysians for a “Walk for Democracy” on July 9.

In the interview with FMT reporter Stephanie Sta Maria, Haris said the conduct of the recent Sarawak election underlined the need for electoral reform in Malaysia. Watch Video

He added that a post-mortem showed that “it was corruption upon corruption upon corruption”.

Elaborating on Bersih’s purpose, he said: “We are just acting against anyone acting against the interest of the rakyat. We have eight simple demands. I think they are all legitimate demands.

“If the government is going to wake up to the need to clean up, and effect these reforms, why would anyone be against the government?

“We say again and again, Bersih is not pro-Pakatan Rakyat. Neither are we anti-Barisan Nasional. We are pro-reform.”

He said Bersih sent invitations to both sides of the political divide, but “it’s not our fault if BN chooses to stay away”.

Pre-emptive arrests

He renewed his invitation to all parties to participate in the rally. “Join us,” he said.

Referring to plans by Perkasa and Umno Youth to hold their own rallies, Haris said he respected their “right to peacefully assemble and I hope they respect ours”.

However, he accused the two organisations of attempting to taint Bersih’s objectives with their racial rhetoric.

“Every time they get involved in something like this, they bring in the race issues.”

But he added: “Malaysians are more mature, and are not so easily swayed by race rethoric, thank God.”

On the possibility of police action against the rally, Haris said Bersih was hoping that the police would realise that their function was to facilitate.

“Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the rakyat the right to peacefully assemble,” he said. It supersedes the Police Act, which was enacted by Parliament.

“Yes we don’t have a permit and we never intended to and we don’t expect to get one.”

He speculated that pre-emptive arrests, as the Home Minister has threatened, would further spur people to participate in the rally.

He expected more than 150,000, which would be more than twice the number in the first Bersih rally in 2007, when police attacked participants with teargas and water cannons.

“If you want to arrest us, take the whole bunch of us,” he said. “This has become bigger than the committee. This is a movement that belongs to the rakyat who want to take part in this call.”

In ending the interview, he urged all citizens to participate and to wear the colour yellow, which he called “the new black”, the “bad colour”.

“Come on, it’s just yellow, for God’s sake. Don’t be afraid, claim your space. Do not allow the authorities to bully you.”

Jeffrey: Scrap July 9 march.

Partyless Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan believes that Bersih has achieved 'half its objectives' after two months of being in the news and should accept the Election Commission's offer to talk.


Comment: EC should not only offer to talk, but rectify the problem raised by Bersih with immediate effect for the sake of Democracy for the country and not mere tools or agents of the BN Government.


KOTA KINABALU: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government and Election Commission (EC) received an unexpected boost from Sabah in the form of Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, once a thorn in the side of both.

The United Borneo Front (UBF) leader has urged Bersih, the coalition for clean and fair elections, to scrap their planned protest march on July 9 and take up the offer of talks made by the EC.

He said whilst UBF fully supported all of Bersih’s noble objectives, the current situation called for all parties to be rational and work to avoid provocation.

“Going ahead with the demo is not the best idea knowing that it could lead to too many undesirable outcomes.

“Since the EC has already opened its door to talk and sort things out, Bersih should see that half its objectives have already been achieved (in the two months of being in the news).

“It needs to realise that it can still pursue its additional objective through other more diplomatic means.

“It can even let Perkasa go ahead with its own demonstration first and see what happens,” he said.

Jeffrey made the call following reports that right wing Malay group, Perkasa and the Umno Youth wing also planned to hold their own marches on the same day.

The timing of the Perkasa and Umno Youth demonstrations to coincide with the Bersih march is widely viewed as a bid to intimidate the the opposition supported Bersih marchers.

Surprising comment

Jeffrey’s caution comes as a surprise as all Sabah-based political parties have at one time or the other vented the frustration at what they saw as unfair elections and rigged electoral rolls.

The mercurial native leader himself was detained without trial in the early 1990s under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for what was seen as a bid to challenge the authority of the federal government over Sabah.

His sudden cautious attitude will be seen as a surrender and viewed with suspicion by his more assertive supporters who have gone so far as to seek the assistance of the European Community governments to exert pressure on the federal government to grant Sabahans a greater say over their destiny.

The former PKR vice-president who is the brother of deputy chief minister, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, has shifted his stance several times over various issues, confusing many of his supporters over his political direction.

Bersih gets support from TI-M

FMT LETTER: From Datuk Paul Low

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) strongly supports the call by Bersih for clean, free and fair elections in Malaysia, as should all members of the public and civil society, regardless of political affiliation. Election results must truly reflect the wishes of the people.

The fight against corruption in any country begins at the top in the political arena, starting with clean and fair elections where the democratic process of election is carried out in a manner where its integrity is safeguarded.

The way the election process is managed and how campaigns are conducted by political parties and their candidates reflect the state of governance and maturity of the political institutions. A clean, free and fair election process gives the public confidence in their elected representatives, political parties and the government.

TI-M reiterates the call for swift and stern action to be taken against all allegations of corruption, including vote buying. Campaign offences should be clarified to assist the MACC in its enforcement. Therefore, it is imperative for the Election Commission (EC), as the first step, to define clearly what is illegal and what is not.
TI-M has, since 2009, conducted research, held consultations, workshops on reforming political financing in Malaysia. The EC and political parties participated in the research and consultations.

There were 22 recommendations for reforms in political financing including elections, which were submitted to the Prime Minister on May 5, 2011. The recommendations include the enhancement of the autonomy and independence of the EC, establishment of a neutral caretaker government after elections are called, equal and free access to public media for elected political parties and a better regulated election process.

TI-M welcomes the assurance by the deputy minister in the prime minister’s department Liew Vui Keong in Parliament last week that the government is currently reviewing certain acts such as the Societies Act 1966, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, Election Commission Act 1957 and Anti Money Laundering Act, as well as the Anti Terrorism Financial Act 2001 to reform political financing and institute an effective monitoring mechanism.

TI-M had also proposed state funding of political parties for election campaigns.TI-M fully supports any initiative which promotes transparency and integrity, and contributes to clean, free and fair elections in Malaysia.

The writer is president of Transparency International Malaysia