PAS reminds members: Be there

KUALA LUMPUR - PAS, which has promised at least 100,000 members for the July 9 rally by Bersih, has again reminded members and supporters to be present for the event to increase pressure for electoral reforms in the country.

“This is to create confidence in the system of parliamentary democracy in the country,” said PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man toHarakahdaily.

PAS is among some eighty organisations which pledged support for the rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Among the Bersih coalition's demands are for the postal votes to be revamped, use of indelible ink, a minimum campaign period of 21 days, an open-minded mainstream and broadcast media, reform of public institutions such as the police and Attorney General's Chambers, eradication of corruption and vote buying practices, and a stop on "gutter politics".

Tuan Ibrahim said the peaceful assembly organised by Bersih 2.0 was nothing new, saying UMNO had held more protests than Pakatan Rakyat since the 12th general election in 2008.

“However, their demonstrations always received protection from the police. The protests went on peacefully although they were seditious.

"For example, the cow-head incident, the burning of leaders’ pictures and flags and the latest including a declaration of war by UMNO’s best friend, Perkasa, which has proven time and again that they are immune from any legal action,” he added.

The Pahang PAS commissioner also 'thanked' Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali for his provocative statements to stop people from attending the July 9 rally.

“Because this will ease the police's job to arrest those making provocation – and now it is clear the one making provocation is Perkasa.

"But, only in Malaysia, one is not surprised that such arrests are targeted at those who do not make any provocation such as PAS, PKR and DAP,” he said.

On the call by UMNO Youth to hold a separate rally, Tuan Ibrahim described as "strange" when its leader Khairy Jamaludin challenged police by saying he was ready to be arrested.

“However, we wonder what UMNO Youth's rally is demanding? If we are making 8 demands, how about UMNO Youth?" he asked, but added that Khairy had been more "understanding" than party old guards "who hid behind Perkasa"

- Harakahdaily