KUCHING: Chief Political Secretary to Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauds the organisers of Bersih 2.0 rally for calling off the street protest.
“Street protest disrupts peace and causes inconvenience to the public, including businesses. Such a protest is a nuisance,” Karim said when commenting on the proposed street rally.
He was also glad that Bersih chief organiser Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan had agreed with the government’s suggestion (to hold the rally in a stadium).
He said that any demonstration should be held in a controlled environment to ensure public order and safety.
Karim who is also Asajaya assemblyman stressed that demonstration such as this Bersih rally must only be held with a permit from the relevant authorities especially the police.
In a twist of events, Ambiga who had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, yesterday was said to have called off the street rally and instead hold it in a stadium yet to be announced.
State Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief See Chee How meanwhile commended Bersih leaders and coordinators for seeking an audience with the Agong, and agreed that the rally should be held in a stadium.
“An audience with the Agong is significant as it signifies the legality and legitimacy of Bersih and its demands, contrary to the accusations of the Barisan Nasional,” said the Batu Lintang assemblyman.
The Election Commission and government should now heed the advice of the Agong and sit down with Bersih leaders to plan and implement their eight demands to ensure that future elections are fair and just.
“Now all those detained and remanded, for excuses related to Bersih, should be released immediately and unconditionally as a respect to the Agong,” See said.