Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has accused the authorities of “lacking good faith” for demanding that the group apply for a permit to hold its planned stadium rally this weekend.
She said the latest hurdle to the July 9 rally for free and fair elections was “wholly inconsistent” with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s earlier assurance that Bersih 2.0 could be held in a stadium, as well as the King’s wishes.
“Why are you asking us to apply for a permit when the prime minister has already okayed it?
“We don’t understand it,” she told the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) here.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar earlier today reminded Bersih to apply for a permit for Saturday’s rally, warning that failure to do so would still make the event an illegal gathering.
He said Bersih had yet to inform or notify the police of their plans for the rally but gave assurance that the group’s permit application process would be expedited in view of the urgency of the situation.
Khalid further warned that those found wearing Bersih T-shirts or possessing pro-Bersih materials would still be arrested by the police as the organisation was still considered illegal.
Malay rights group Perkasa has said it too will hold a stadium rally in the capital on July 9 to counter Bersih 2.0.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali also urged the police not to issue a permit to Bersih as it was an illegal organisation.
He warned that the police would be setting a “very bad precedent” by issuing a permit to the election reform group as Section 27 of the Police Act stipulates that no permits may be issued to illegal organisations or individuals representing such groups
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