Bersih suit: Not all served with writ of summonses

Only two out of nine named have received notices and Bersih plans to meet the Attorney-General soon to seek clarification.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih co-chairman S Ambiga revealed today that only two steering committee members have thus far received writ of summons from the government.

“Only Maria Chin Abdullah and I have been served the writ of summons,” Ambiga said.

The remaining seven who were named in the suit by the government which is seeking more than RM200,000 in compensation for damages suffered during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally, have not received their summonses.

“We will meet the Attorney-General [Abdul Gani Patail] soon so that all the defendants are mentioned in the suit,” Ambiga said.

She told this to reporters outside her home in Bukit Damansara this afternoon, with all the Bersih steering committee members and well-wishers present at her side.

Ambiga said the committee will “defend vigorously” the suit by the government.

Bersih co-chair and national laureate A Samad Said also echoed similar sentiments. “We are prepared to answer all allegations in court,” he said.

Ambiga, meanwhile, revealed that “many lawyers were willing to take up the case” on behalf of those targeted by the government in the suit.

The former Bar Council president thanked her neighbours for putting up with the intrusion of privacy and the public who have stepped forward to donate towards the legal bill.

Steering committee member Dr Subramaniam Pillai of Aliran advised the public not to donate until the committee has made an official announcement.

“Please hold on. We don’t want unscrupulous people to handle the funds. We will issue guidelines on how to make donations via our website soon,” Subramaniam said.