By Tashny Sukumaran, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR: NGOs nationwide are banding together in support of Bersih’s upcoming march for clean and clear elections, set to take place on July 9.
The much-discussed march has been met with opposition from several sectors, including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who accused the organisers of attempting to “wrest back political momentum from the Barisan Nasional”, saying that the Bersih supporters are to be blamed if the march leads to chaos.
Also strindently opposing the rally are pro-Malay rights group Perkasa, led by firebrand Ibrahim Ali, and Umno Youth headed by Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
The two groups have organised marches of their own to take place on the same day as Bersih’s.
However, Bersih has repeatedly stressed that the “walk for democracy” is a form of “peaceful and principled activism”, and that the July 9 gathering is merely to exercise the constitutional right of the people to have their voices heard in a democratic manner.
“Najib needs to protect human rights,” Bersih steering committee said in a statement.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) committee is made up of Ambiga Sreenevasan (chairman), Andrew Khoo, Arumugam K, Dr Farouk Musa, Haris Ibrahim, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Yeo Yang Poh, Zaid Kamaruddin, Subramaniam Pillay and Arul Prakkash.
The election watchdog said it was “disappointed” that instead of “fulfilling his (Najib’s) role as the protector of the constitutional rights and safety of peace-loving Malaysians, he has chosen to misrepresent our intentions”.
True goal
Bersih also expressed disappointment at the accusation that the purpose of the march was to wrest back political momentum from BN, saying that Najib had failed to understand its stated
goals.
Bersih emphasised that its true goal was to make the electoral system truly free and fair so that all political parties in Malaysia could contest on a level playing field.
It called on Barisan Nasional parties to join the rally, and demonstrate the so-called “progressive” views that the prime minister has espoused.
“He (Najib) can conclusively do so simply by allowing the July 9 rally to proceed unhindered and by directing all government agencies to cooperate fully with all involved.”
The statement also hit out at the police for arresting 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists under Section 122 of the Penal Code (for waging war against the king that carries a sentence of life imprisonment or imprisonment not exceeding 20 years).
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