By Teoh El Sen
July 1, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: The police will no longer seek to negotiate or discuss with the organisers of the July 9 rallies, be it from Bersih, Perkasa, or Umno Youth.
Their stand is clear: The rallies will not be allowed.
The nation’s number two police officer, deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said: “We have given them explanations and warnings and reminders, but they do not heed. We will make sure this rally does not take place.”
“We will not discuss anymore. Be ready to face the laws of this country,” he said.
Khalid, speaking at a hastily called press conference at Bukit Aman today, said he does not discount the possibility of using the Internal Security Act (ISA) in efforts to stop the rallies from happening.
“I won’t discount it,” he said, when asked.
Yesterday Bersih chairperson S Ambiga, after a meeting with IGP Ismail Omar, said she will be meeting the top cop again next week following her request for the police to chart the routes for the Bersih rally.
“I told the IGP that we are willing to accept routes that the police outline for us… from KL to PJ,” she told FMT yesterday.
She said that while Ismail did not give his green light to the suggestion, she would be meeting the police chief again next week to get the police force’s opinion on Bersih’s suggestion. She described the meeting as cordial.
Khalid’s remarks today however indicated that the police are no longer willing to engage with Ambiga over the Bersih rally. Ismail also had similar meetings with representatives of Perkasa and Umno Youth.
‘More may be arrested’
Khalid also said the IGP, in his meetings with the rallies’ organisers, had expressed his concerns and the implications of the events.
“We explained to them the worry of traders, tourists, taxi and hotel businesses. The lives of a lot of people will be disrupted. And many are against it,” he said.
“But they insist on going ahead with the rallies, so we will use the relevant laws we have in this country,” he said.
Khalid said that as of last night, there were 2,136 reports lodged against the organisers, mostly against Bersih, the highest the nation has recorded on a public rally.
“Its not just yellow but anything from red, green or grey. Any group that shows support for the illegal rally, we’ll act.”
Thus far, 115 people have been arrested and 30 are under remand in Penang, he said.
When asked if the police had any credible evidence of the revival of communism, as claimed by the police for the arrest and detention of the 30 PSM members in Penang last weekend, Khalid said he could not reveal further on this.
However, he warned that more people would be arrested when the need arises.
“As the enforcement authority of the country, we definitely know more than other people,” he said.