By Melissa Chi
July 03, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The Home Ministry ban on Bersih 2.0 will not have the impact it had aimed for as the electoral reform movement has captured the people’s “hearts and minds”, says its chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
The former Bar Council president also disagreed with the Najib administration’s rationale for outlawing the movement, saying Bersih 2.0 was a coalition of established groups and does not need to be registered.
“More important, above and beyond that, Bersih now means more than just a group of organisations to Malaysians. Bersih is now a concept that has captured the hearts and minds of the rakyat.
“Bersih is now the rakyat, therefore whatever anybody tries to do to Bersih will not make any difference to how people feel about what it stands for,” the Bersih chairman told The Malaysian Insider.
The Home Ministry declared Bersih 2.0 illegal effective July 1 for causing an “atmosphere of unrest”, a week before its planned July 9 rally calling for free and fair elections.
The ministry issued a four-paragraph statement yesterday outlining the reasons for the ban by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
It gave three reasons for the banning of the movement, adding it was an unregistered group despite fulfilling all criteria to form an organisation under the Societies Act 1966.
The reasons given for the ban are:
i) Being active and sparking an atmosphere of unrest and worry among the multiracial community in the country;
ii) Spreading propaganda to incite the people to topple the government by distributing certain leaflets;
iii) Its activities have given a bad image to the country, which can threaten and undermine public order, security, economy and the country’s sovereignty and affect the harmony of the multiracial community.
Ambiga disagreed with the reasons outlined by the Registrar of Societies Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman and gave her justification.
“From a legal standpoint, we believe that Bersih 2.0 is a coalition of established organisations, so it does not require registration under the Societies Act,” said the senior lawyer.
Police have arrested more than 100 people this past week in connection with the Bersih rally, declaring its iconic yellow T-shirt illegal.
They released and re-arrested Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar and five other Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members yesterday for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial.
The PSM members were campaigning for the electoral reform movement, which comprises some 62 groups and has received support from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition and few other political parties. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) has snubbed an offer to support the movement and has instead demonised it through state-run media and mosque sermons.
Bersih 2.0 has planned a rally for July 9 in the capital city to press for its eight demands, but police have said it will not allow any demonstrations on that day.
At least two other groups — Perkasa and Umno Youth — have said they will mount counter-protests against the Bersih rally.
The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw an estimated 50,000 people take to the streets in the capital city before they were dispersed by riot police armed with water cannons and tear gas.
Bersih 2.0 expects a higher turnout this year due to more widespread publicity courtesy of social media.
PR parties have ordered their members to support the rally, with PAS asking its million-strong members to turn up on July 9.
Several rallies in support of Bersih are also being planned in major cities across the world on that day.
Outlawing Bersih is irrelevant,because Bersih will be you Umnoputras biggest nightmares.
You animals will forever remember this word
till your last day on this earth.This word Bersih
will be what is going to sweep Umno under the rug,and you animals into the cages.Your judgement days are just around the corner.Enjoy your last few freedom days.
Hidup Bersih2.0 and
in every rakyat’s heart for liberty!
WE ARE THE WORLD
So do you.
Yang akan menjadi penyebabkan utama kerugian wang ringgit kepada para peniaga termasuk pemandu-pemandu teksi, ialah pihak polis yang di jangka akan “mengunci KL” dengan mengadakan sekatan jalan-jalan masuk ke KL.
KL akan “di kunci” DUA TIGA hari sebelumnya padahal perarakan cuma di jangka mengambil masa 2 hingga 4 jam sahaja.
Korbankan lebih kurang 4 jam untuk mendapatkan sebuah kerajaan yang berwibawa di masa hadapan, terukkah kerugian anda jika berbanding masa depan yang lebih cerah untuk kita semua. Masa itu, keuntungan anda mungkin berlipat kali ganda, itu tidak mustahil.
Gunalah akal yang telah sediada……
HIDUP RAKYAT ! HANCUR UMNO !!
UMNO is the real cause of massive economic losses to the country but they always spin it the other way around. Fortunately, more and more rakyat realize the deceit and lies by UMNO and are tired sick of them.
Imagine those corrupted politicians may have robbed our country treasury over 100 billions or 200 billions
Whatcan the amount of money benefit for us MALAYSIANS if it have NOT been robbed by the corrupted politicians?
Yes, BERSIH we urgently need BERSIH before the country go bankrupt
We respect you Datuk Ambiga for your stand and noble conviction.All the right minded people are supporting you.Every good soul in this country knows the evil and corrupted power needs to be wiped out soon for the sake of the future of the people and the nation.
Confirmed. The word “Bersih” is a taboo to the current gomen of Bolehland. Banners for any gotong royong campaign to bersihkan kampung halaman will be torn apart by stray dogs in the streets. These dogs r trained to do so and have to do it otherwise they won’t be given food by their masters.
Latest news:
10,000 hectare of banana trees in Teluk Intan have been arrested this afternoon.
Reason: They supported Bersih 2 by producing yellow banana!
Looking at the various actions taken by the so-called authorities, Bersih 2 march, whether materialised or not, has more than achieved its objectives.