Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that Bersih, although still an illegal entity, will have to make an official application to the police despite the electoral reform movement agreeing to move a planned July 9 street rally to a stadium.
The prime minister also clarified that his offer to negotiate a suitable venue was on behalf of his administration, and not himself personally.
“We will leave it to the authorities. The police will decide in the interest of safety. An official application must be submitted.
“I never said I would personally meet them. Anyone in the government can negotiate,” he told reporters this evening in remarks which suggest the government appeared to be looking for a way out of the crisis by relying on the police not to issue a permit for the rally.
In a press conference this morning, Bersih said it would make several demands such as the release of those detained for supporting the rally, allowing the public to wear yellow T-shirts in support of the movement and the formation of a royal commission into electoral practices when it met the prime minister.
But Najib said he had yet to receive any official request from Bersih.
The Umno president added that the coalition of 62 NGOs, remains an illegal body but the application could be made by a registered organisation.
Both Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had also insisted earlier today that Bersih was still outlawed and requires a permit for Saturday’s planned gathering.
“No, they are still banned, still illegal. Nobody can be above the law. Just because Tuanku met them, doesn’t mean they are no longer illegal,” Hishammuddin had said, referring to the audience granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to Bersih yesterday, after which it accepted the stadium offer.
The police have continued to make arrests in connection with the rally, most of which revolving around yellow T-shirts with the word Bersih emblazoned on them in a clampdown that has also seen Bersih being declared illegal.
But Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin stepped in on Sunday to defuse tension by advising the Najib administration and Bersih 2.0 to hold consultations over the issue of free and fair elections.
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See how these double tongues UMNO snakes talk now..
It seems as though the advice of the King did not sink into Najib's, his cousin Kerismuddin's and their personal hencehmen, the Police's heads. The people have been fooled.
There is no double tongue about this. Najib, Hisham and UMNO are all obviously disrespectful of the Yang diPertuan Agong. His majesty's edict is that the government, led by Najib, should bolster democracy and dialogue with Bersih to meet the aspirations of the rakyat for free and fair elections. By his edict, His Majesty recognises Bersih. So for Hisham to continue declaring Bersih illegal is to defy His Majesty, even to show contempt for His Majesty.
Najib cannot pass the buck to the police because the police force is not the government. Najib is the head of the government and is therefore accountable. By trying to pass the buck, he is also disrespectful of the King and is also defying the King. UMNO can no longer claim to be loyal to the King. In fact, UMNO is holding His Majesty the King, and the office of the Yang diPertuan Agong in contempt! For that reason alone, Najib and Hisham, in particular, ought to be charged for treason and for insulting His Majesty.
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