Bersih to seek audience with Agong

The Bersih 2.0 rally scheduled for July 9 hinges on the outcome of the movement's leaders audience with the Agong.

Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan said the movement, which is a coalition of more than 60 NGOs, will submit a request for the audience later today.

"We want to communicate our decision to His Majesty and then we will announce (our decision)," said Ambiga at a press conference today.

She said that for now, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee had met last night for an emergency meeting and decided that it would "abide" by the Agong's statement issued late yesterday evening.

However, she refused to divulge details on the committee's decision until an audience with the Agong has taken place.

Ambiga said the coalition welcomes the Agong'sstatement, calling it a timely and necessary "intervention" in the face of increasingly violent threats issued by Bersih 2.0's opponents.

Press by reporters, Ambiga was evasive on what she means by "abide", repeatedly stating that it was only fair to discuss the matter with the Agong first before going public with the decision.

When asked if they would call off the rally if the Agong advises them to, she curtly said, "Yes".

She was then asked again on this but she deflected the topic by stating that any decision would only be made after the audience with the Agong.

At this point, one of the secretariat members chimed in to "advise" the media not to pre-empt the issue before the audience.

'We'll take it a day at a time'

Ambiga said they hope to secure an audience with the Agong before Saturday, but was again evasive when asked whether or not they will take to the streets if the meeting does not take place by then.

She said that, while they would like to meet the Agong as soon as possible, it is entirely his prerogative, and declined to say more.

"We will take it one day at a time. We will make an announcement when the time comes," she said.

Ambiga also said Bersih 2.0 is deeply grateful for the Agong's support for their cause in seeking electoral reform, stressing again that his statement was timely.

She said Bersih 2.0's supporters have suffered countless injustices, particularly over the past month, due to actions by what she claimed are parties unrelated to the coalition and allegedly aimed at discrediting the movement.

"We are a peaceful movement and want to communicate our views in a peaceful manner," she said.

[More to follow]