Local youths light candles during the Bersih 4 rally at Song Kheng Hai Grounds in Kuching on Saturday night. — Photo by Russell Ting
Bersih 4 in Kuching supposed to end at 11.50pm but called off at noon yesterday due to several factors
KUCHING: The organising committee of the Kuching Bersih 4 rally called off the two-day event at noon yesterday even though the scheduled cut-off time was 11.50pm.
Organising chairman Nicholas Mujah told The Borneo Post that the decision was reached after the organising committee felt that certain quarters had contravened the Peaceful Assembly Act.
“Among our concerns were the number of children present at the venue during the rally and also during the night. Some of them were present until the wee hours,” he said.
Mujah (third left) showing the police report that officially stated the end of the rally. With him are Kuching Bersih 4 spokesperson Karen Shepherd (second left), master-of-ceremony Peter John Jaban (left) and others.
Mujah added that the organisers had repeatedly stated during press conferences and at the start of the rally that children were not allowed to enter the rugby field and participate in the rally.
“This has, sadly, fallen onto deaf ears. We, as the organisers, have to make a collective decision and prioritised the people’s safety instead of putting the people at risk for the sake of publicity.”
On a related matter, he admitted that the organisers had been receiving flaks on the social media from certain quarters about the rally’s premature end.
“We duly acknowledge all dissatisfactions and would like to apologise for any inconveniences or shortcomings caused by the rally’s premature end.
“I have no hard feelings towards the angry words being thrown at me. I accept it with an open heart,” said Mujah, who stood by the objectives of Bersih rallies, which is to fight for free and fair elections, a transparent government, the right to demonstrate, strengthening the parliamentary democracy system, and saving the national economy.
The Song Kheng Hai rugby field as at 2pm yesterday.
Bersih, he added, was intended to be a platform for the people to express and speak what are on their minds in accordance to the Peaceful Assembly Act.
Mujah said the organisers, too, had tried to stop certain quarters from bringing placards depicting sensitive and slanderous remarks to the venue during the rally.
“There was unhappiness among certain quarters, and we have our limitations. At that moment, the organisers have to make an instant decision for the sake and security of everyone present.”
Meanwhile, police will act against a group that participated in the rally for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act by holding a parade.
State CID chief SAC Dev Kumar said the group of about 400 people paraded from Hilton Hotel to the assembly point at Song Kheng Hai rugby field.
“Police have informed the organisers about the rules, and one of them is not to parade during the event.
“Therefore, we will take action and, maybe, call them, especially those who led the parade, to give their statements,” he said when met at the field yesterday.
He added that 11 provocative banners were also seized from that group.
“We confiscated the banners, but no arrest was made. However, their offence was for staging the parade.”
Dev, however, declined to disclose the party involved in the parade.
It is understood that the state DAP and its supporters had gathered in front of Hilton Hotel at 1.30pm.
Led by their state chairman cum Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, they paraded and carried provocative placards to the Song Kheng Hai ground.
Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad also said the group had flouted the rules and regulations given to the organisers.
“Some of them gave excuses that they parked their vehicle there (Hilton Hotel) but why were they marching in a group and carrying placards.
“They try to cover up from us (police), but action will be taken later.”
Roslan also said police would summon Kuching Bersih 4 chairman Nicholas Mujah to give his statement.
Meanwhile, he confirmed receiving four reports regarding the rally. Two reports were lodged against DBKU for dismantling banners, one for parading and one for showing video in public without permit.
“We had received the report but so far no arrest has been made.”