Richard comes under fire for running ‘Riot’

Sarawak PKR women's wing takes the deputy foreign minister to task for his 'bloodbath' speech.

KUCHING: Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot received a roasting from the state PKR women’s wing for “stirring unnecessary fear and anxiety” among Sarawakians with his call urging them to stay away from Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

July 9 is when Bersih will hold its “Walk for Democracy” rally calling for fair and clean general elections. Extremist Malay group, Perkasa, has also threatened to hold a counter rally.

Pointing out security issues, Riot had last Sunday reportedly said that he feared there would be unruly incidents during the July 9 rallies which could lead to a “bloodbath” if clashes were to occur.

Noting that both Bersih and Perkasa were touting gatherings of some 200,000 and 100,000 supporters respectively, Riot said: “If this planned procession happens, I worry that the demonstration would turn ugly with fighting that could lead to a bloodbath.”

Responding to his remarks, PKR women leader Voon Shiak Ni said: “I wish to remind Riot not to stir unnecessary fear and anxiety in Sarawakians because the Bersih march is meant to be peaceful with the honourable objectives of instituting a clean and fair election process which upholds the principles of democracy and social justice.

“I myself was at the first Bersih march in 2007 and I am of the view that if the government had not resorted to mobilising unnecessary machinery such as federal riot units (FRU), the huge police presence, the water cannons and the tear gas, the Bersih march of 2007 would be even more peaceful,” she said.

“Even with all these obstacles, deterrents and threats, we managed to march peacefully though many of us had to struggle and battle with the tear gas and water.”

Voon predicted that the Bersih march 2.0 on July 9 would draw some 200,000 people who will march from Masjid Negara to Istana Negara.

It will be Bersih’s second rally since 2007.

Slamming Sharizat

Voon also blasted Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for telling women not to participate in the July 9 Bersih march.

Sharizat had allegedly posted her call online.

Voon said as a representative of the Malaysian women in Parliament, Shahrizat should uphold and respect the rights of women, knowing full well that women make up 50% of the voters in the country.

“They have the right to make their voice heard on any issues pertaining to the electoral process and they should be respected in exercising their rights and in ensuring that their votes are cast through a clean, fair and transparent electoral process.

“Sharizat being a woman should not have made personal attacks on Ambiga Sreenevasan, Coalition for Free And Fair Elections (Bersih) chairperson, because the march is not about herself but the voice of the coalition of more than 60 NGOs.

“Ambiga thinks that our country is desperately in need of electoral reforms,” said Voon.

She said that PKR women’s wing salutes the efforts and courage of Ambiga, being firm with her stand in leading the Bersih march and her fearless spirit in fighting for social justice and human rights.

“She is indeed a pride and honour to fellow women,” she said.

Voter registration

Voon also reiterated PKR’s call for automatic voter registration for all the citizens who have reached the age of 21.

“We wish to point out that the registration of voters has been hampered by distance, logistics and costs especially in Sarawak.

“We do not understand why the government cannot do something about this necessary reform as it can even help cut the costs of paying Election Commission (EC) assistants to do the registration.

“This is one of the reforms that the civil society has been calling for years and till to date, nothing is done about it,” she said, pointing out that there were about 3.9 million Malaysians who are eligible to vote but have yet to register themselves.

She said if the EC responded positively to calls for reforms by dialogue and talks, then there would be no need for NGOs to call for a rally.

“The Bersih rally is called because the people’s voice is not heard,” she added.