Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim absolved the police forces’s rank and file from blame after a Umno youth mob gathered at PKR’s headquarters last night, and allegedly threatened to burn it down.
The PKR de facto leader told reporters today that recent events proved that the police will not act without prior orders from Umno leaders.
But he pointed out that the police were more than capable of keeping the peace.
“They threatened to burn our building, made death threats and the police were unable to do anything. The problem is Umno’s political interference,” he said after being questioned by the police in relation to the July 9 Bersih rally for electoral reforms.
The mercury has risen ahead of the July 9 march, with the Bersih group and both Umno Youth and Perkasa — who have planned counter rallies — refusing to back down despite the government warning of stern action should any of the groups insist on going ahead without police permits.
Up to 600 Umno Youth members had arrived at the PKR headquarters late last night, just a few doors away from the Tropicana police station, claiming that a death threat sent to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin recently came from the opposition party, which denied the allegation.
Anwar added that he told senior police officers this evening after being investigated for sedition and planning to hold an illegal gathering, that “in the end, people will attack the police, say they are unfair and double standard.”
The opposition leader added that “it is the image and ability of police that will be affected but it is the duty of the public to defend the police.”
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) hopes the demonstration will generate momentum ahead of a general elections expected within the year.
The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannons.
The demonstration has been partly credited for Pakatan Rakyat’s record gains in Election 2008, where the opposition pact swept to power in five states and won 82 parliamentary seats.
No comments:
Post a Comment