Jimadie Shah Othman | Jun 30, 11
Malaysiakini
The clampdown against Bersih T-shirts continues, with 23 Kajang councillors being called up by police today for questioning for wearing the shirts at the full board meeting yesterday.
But of this number, only seven were present at the Kajang district police station this evening, while the others will give their statements in stages as they are not available today.
According to councilor Chandra Mohan ST, the police did not inform them under what section of the law they are being investigated.
The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has 24 members but only 20 were in attendance yesterday.
Those who had their statements taken today were Chandra, Ng Tien Chee, Steven Chan Jeong Hon, Tan Boon Wah, Lee Kee Hiong, Chang Siaw Hong and Noorhisham Ishak.
They were accompanied by lawyer and Segambut parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng.
Asked opinion on Bersih’s demands
It is understood that five police personnel had attended the council meeting yesterday and taken photographs of those present.
Chandra said that the police informed him that they are compelled to give their witness statements under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He added that besides being asked his particulars and on his duties as a councillor, he was also questioned about his views on the demands by Bersih 2.0.
“I told them I support Bersih’s objectives, that’s why we were wearing yellow,” he said, adding that he was also asked if he supported the July 9 rally.
There were also “irrelevant questions” which he refused to answer, like the name of his family members.
Colleague Norhisham added that the answers do not really require them to come all the way to the police station, as they were too simple.
“They could have just emailed us,” he said.
On June 29, seven Selangor local councils – Subang Jaya, Ampang, Klang, Petaling Jaya, Kajang, Selayang and Shah Alam – showed solidarity with Bersih 2.0 by donning yellow items of clothing like headscarves, ties and headbands, with some wearing the NGO’s T-shirts at the full board meetings.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had said that wearing the T-shirts are illegal as it is connected to an illegal activity, that is the rally which has not been given a police permit.
More than 2000 have been called up by police to give statements in relation to Bersih 2.0.