‘Stubborn’ Ambiga out to score political point, says Khairy

Khairy: She is being stubborn. She can be cooperative but she wants to see this take place.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Khairy Jamaluddin said today Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s refusal to meet the Election Commission(EC) ahead of a July 9 rally is proof that “she is raising the stakes politically.”

The Umno Youth chief, who will also lead his own publicrally in the city on the same day, said that the group pursuing electoral reforms “has scored a moral victory” in forcing the EC to come to the table but was insistent on making a political point.

“She is being stubborn. She can be cooperative but she wants to see this take place. If she won’t even discuss with the EC before dismissing them as powerless, then it is disingenuous to say you are pursuing reforms,” the Rembau MP told The Malaysian Insider.

Ambiga had declined the EC’s offer to discuss electoral reforms saying the commission had admitted it lacked the authority to act on blatant abuses and that the reforms needed to be tabled in Parliament anyway.

Khairy said today that it was meaningless for Bersih to talk about being independent as it clearly was looking to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to champion its cause in Parliament.

“Why not meet the EC first, there is still two weeks before July 9? Then decide if any progress can be made. But she is clearly not interested and simply wants to make a political point.

“All Malaysians want to avoid a confrontation but she has raised the stakes politically,” he added.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties and activists are gearing up to march next month in the second such rally by Bersih, the first being in 2007 when up to 50,000 were reported to have gathered in the capital, with many being dispersed by water cannons and tear gas fired by the police.

PAS has promised to bring hundreds of thousands this year in hopes that it will galvanise support for the opposition in the general election expected within the year.

The 2007 rally was said to play a big role in bringing record gains for the opposition electoral pact in Election 2008, where it swept five state governments and won 82 parliamentary seats.

However, Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia has continued to attack the rally since last weekend, urging Malaysians to gather in a counter protest.

Umno leaders have also accused Bersih organisers of using illegal means to gain political mileage.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has warned that “it will be chaotic when those for and against the street demonstration clash.”

Besides Umno Youth, Malay rights NGO Perkasa has also promised to march against Bersih on July 9 and claims the support of at least 36 other NGOs.