Arrest looms for Ambiga, opposition leaders

KL police have obtained a court order to prevent 91 individuals, including Ibrahim Ali and Khairy Jamaluddin, from setting foot in several parts of the city on July 9.

FULL REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and opposition leaders will be arrested should they enter certain parts of the city on Saturday.

The police had obtained a court order to restrict 91 inviduals, including Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, from setting foot in several places on that day.

Other notable names on the list were Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

City police chief Amar Singh said the order was not for the whole of Kuala Lumpur but for certain areas such as Dataran Merdeka, Sogo, Istana Negara, Masjid Negara, Maju Junction and so forth.

However, he added that Stadium Merdeka, which was where Bersih 2.0 intends to hold its rally, was not on the list.

The order prevents those on the list, which also includes Bersih 2.0 steering committee members, from being present at these areas from 8am to 6pm.

Responding to a question, Amar denied that Ambiga was the topmost name on the list.

“No such thing. All 91 names are there, and nobody is considered top priority,” he said, adding that those who defied the order would be arrested.

“First of all, you will be violating a court order and secondly, they will be liable under Section 188 of the Penal Code,” he told FMT.

Those found guilty of committing an offence under Section 188 with regard to disobeying orders could be jailed for one month, fined RM400 or both.

The section also stipulated that if the offenders’ actions result in riots or endagers human lives, health or safety, a jail term of six months or a fine of RM2,000 or both could be imposed.

When quizzed on the police deployment for Saturday, Amar said sufficient number of personnel would be present but refused to reveal the exact figure.

Bersih is keen to hold its rally at Stadium Merdeka while Perkasa has applied to Stadium Titiwangsa for its anti-Bersih gathering. Umno Youth has decided to call off its pro-Election Commission rally after the King’s statement on Sunday calling for cool heads to prevail and not to engage in street protest .

The 91 barred by the KL police are:

Perkasa (14)

Ibrahim Ali

Ab Rahman Abu Bakar

Syed Hassan Syed Ali

Irawah Fahmi Ideris

Roslan Kassim

Sharifuddin Abd Hamid

Dr Zubir Harun

Ameir Hj Hassan

Ahmad Saad

Ahmad Zaini Ismail

Muhammad Zaid Md Arip

Abdullah Mansor

Zaira Jaafar

Norkhaila Jamaludin

Umno Youth (11)

Khairy Jamaluddin

Megat Firdouz Megat Junid

Reezal Merican Naina Merican

Megat Zulkarnaian Omardin

Rizalman Mokhtar

Tengku Azman Tengku Zainol Abidin

Lokman Noor Adam

Abdul Azeez Rahim

Ungku Saleh Ungku Jamal

Arman Azha Abu Hanifa

Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz

Bersih (66)

S Ambiga

Mohamad Sabu

Hishamuddin Md Rais

Khairul Anwar Ahmad Zainuddin

Maria Chin Abdullah

Chua Tian Chang (Tian Chua)

Kamarulzaman Mohamad

Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli

Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh

Teresa Kok

Badrul Hisham Shaharin

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin

S Arutchelvam

Wong Chin Huat

Ong Boon Keong

E Nalini

Haris Ibrahim

Khalid Yunus

Zulkifli Noordin

Zubir Harun

Abd Hadi Awang

Anwar Ibrahim

Lim Kit Siang

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat

Nurul Izzah Anwar

Y Kohila

Zaid Kamaruddin

Khoo Teng Swee

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri

Yap Swee Seng

Salahuddin Ayub

Mahfuz Omar

Nasarudin Hasan

Mazlan Aliman

Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi

Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad

Dr Mujahid Yusof

Khalid Abd Samad

Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin

Azman Shapawi Abd Rani

Suhaizan Kaiat

Nor Azli Musa

Mohd Firdaus Jaafar

Loke Siew Fook

Lau Wen San

Mohd Azmin Ali

Mat Shuhaimi Shafie

Satipul Bahari Amamt

Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli

Mohamad Izzudin Hilmi Mohd Zaini

Mohd Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin

Muhammad Hilman Idham

Mohd Shukri Che Ab Razab

Mohd Syukri Kamaruddin

Ahmad Syazwan bin Muhammad Hasan

Choo Chon Kai

M Sarasvathy

Soh Sook Hwa

Nurul Izham Nurul Anuar

Abd Rahim Osman

Mohd Sibri Ismail

Mohd Lukam Muda

Prof Kamaruddin Kachar

Mohd Noor Nordin Abdullah

The restricted areas:

Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Istana, Jalan Bukit Petaling, Jalan Bellamy, Around Istana Negara, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Lembah Perdana, Jalan Chenderasari, Around Masjid Negara, Around Dataran Merdeka, Around Central Market, Around Masjid Jamek, Dataran Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Sogo premises, Maju Junction, Masjid Kampung Baru, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sri Amar, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Haji Taib, Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Jalan Raja Bot, Jalan Raja Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Gereja, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Loke and Jalan Sultan Mahmud.

Immediate reactions:

Wong Chin Huat, Bersih steering committee member:
“We are talking about a gathering of at least 100,000 people. You put 66 (from Bersih) on the list, how much difference does it make? That leaves 99 936 people left. How many people can you take it? The list does not make a real difference.”

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri from Lawyers For Liberty:
“I just found out. I feel like screaming my lungs out! I am very upset with the government. How do we expect them to govern if they are so paranoid of activists.”

Salahuddin Ayub, PAS vice-president:
“Very undemocratic of the government. Najib has to fulfill his promise of providing a stadium for us. We fulfilled our end by discussing the best way forward. Then all of a sudden, surprisingly, the list of the names come out. What is this all about? Najib has failed as a prime minister.”

Tengku Azman, Umno Youth exco:
“I will abide the police instructions for the sake of public harmony.”

Y Kohila, PSM/grassroots movement Jerit:
“I will still attend the rally.”

Lau Weng San, DAP’s Kampung Tungku assemblyman:
“I missed a very good business opportunity as I had placed orders for mineral waters and was planning to sell it on that day. I’m joking. But I think this whole thing is outrageous. I haven’t made up my mind on what to do next but I am surprised I’m in the list. I’m one of the least influential people compared to others.

They’ve obviously not done a very good assessment. At the moment I think the police have lost all direction in managing this. They should engage with Bersih istead of the clampdown.”

Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth chief (in his tweet):
“Just landed back in KL after trying to break Israeli blockade of Gaza only to find that I’ve been blockaded from KL. Excuse me if I say WTF?”

Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR vice-president:
“The madness of the authorities knows no bounds. But mark my words, all Malaysia will remember this; and Malaysians are wise enough to discern the noticeable differences between how Bersih 2.0 and non Bersih 2.0 activists are treated. We will march on.

(In her tweet) “Sorry to break this to u, officer. But I live in KL….”

Tian Chua, PKR vice-president:
“It’s ridiculous. How am I to serve my constitution? We are Kuala Lumpur MPs. They cannot deny our presence in our constituencies. Ten out of 11 KL constituencies have Pakatan Rakyat MPs. What are they saying? I cannot even come out of my house to get wantan mee?”

Lim Kit Siang, DAP leader:
“Malaysia has descended into an alarmist stage.”

Teresa Kok, Selangor senior state exco, Seputeh MP:
“This is unconstitutional, restricting our movements. Worse than communist regime!”

Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, PAS’ Kuala Selangor MP:
“This is disgraceful, especially after giving the impression that they were engaging Bersih 2.0 and political parties. It’s Malaysia’s way of stifling democratic freedom, through a court injunction. This is undemocratic, mala fide. Najib is irresponsible, stoking hatred and animosity.”

Haris Ibrahim, Bersih steering committee member:
“If a law is bad, break it.”