Jeyakumar, 30 PSM members arrested over Bersih rally


Police are moving to shut down Bersih activities ahead of the July 9 rally. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj was among 31 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members who were arrested today in relation to the July 9 Bersih rally.

The group, which had been travelling on a bus from Kedah for a planned Bersih roadshow in Penang, were intercepted by police at the Sungai Dua toll plaza near Kepala Batas this afternoon.

The 17 men and 14 women are presently being held at the Seberang Perai Utara police station, on suspicion of attempting to distribute “inflammatory” material such as T-shirts and flyers.

Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is planning a massive rally on July 9 to push for electoral reforms, with PAS aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly.

Umno Youth and right wing group Perkasa have also promised to carry out separate rallies to rival Bersih’s.

Authorities maintain they will deny permits to all three and have repeatedly warned they will treat the rallies as illegal assemblies.

The Home Ministry also said it will haul up the organisers from the three groups for persisting with their preparations.

No comments: