Rally participants not creating havoc, it’s the police

The federal government was wrong to backtrack
on its promise to allow Bersih 2.0 to hold its
rally in an indoor stadium, says Sabah
politician Jeffrey Kitingan.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah NGO, United Borneo Front (UBF), has urged the federal government to allow the Bersih 2.0 rally organisers to hold the event in a stadium and not make it difficult for the people to access the venue.

Its president, Jeffrey Kitingan, said that by creating unnecessary road blocks, the police would be the ones creating traffic havoc, and not the rally participants.

He said that the government has also been very inconsistent in its decision on the proposed rally.

“The government was the one who suggested that the rally be held in a stadium, but when that was agreed to, they changed their mind and decided to enforce a ban in Kuala Lumpur.

“By doing so they have proven to be inconsistent and may have defied the decision of the Yang DiPertuan Agong,” he said yesterday.

Jeffrey said the government had become extremely paranoid by imposing a ban on yellow T-shirts, and banning certain people from entering the national capital.

“The government must realize that by repressing the people’s right of association and movement and closing all avenues of democratic self-expression, it runs the great risk of a powerful backlash in the next general election.

“If they are not allowed the basic rights, they will naturally go underground and strategise in ways which will not be easily monitored.

“We appeal to the government’s sense of reason and fairness and also to allow the Sabahan Bersih members and supporters to assemble within confined venues such as community halls,” Jeffrey added.