Deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar held a press conference today to advise Bersih 2.0 to apply for the permit.
"So far, there is no application to hold a rally in a stadium," he said. "I suggest (they) apply for permit immediately. We will process it as soon as possible."
When it was pointed out by journalists that since Bersih 2.0 has been gazetted as an illegal organisation by the Home Ministry it would not qualify for a permit, Khalid merely nodded in agreement.
However, he refused to confirm if the police would deny Bersih 2.0 a permit on this ground.
Asked if the movement could submit the application under the name of a registered organisation, Khalid replied: "Maybe they can, I don't know."
Even with permit, T-shirts still banned
He refused to answer all hypothetical questions related to the situation that may arise if Bersih 2.0 applies for the permit.
“They need to apply first, then we will consider all factors.”
But even if a permit for Bersih 2.0's scheduled rally on Saturday is approved, objects with the movement's logo will still be banned from the event because it is still an illegal organisation.
"Clothes and things that have the Bersih logo... as far as we are concerned... Bersih has been gazetted as an illegal organisation."Any paraphernalia related to Bersih (2.0) is prohibited. Possessing anything that indicates support for Bersih 2.0 is an offence," he said.
This morning Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan had stated that the movement will not apply for a permit as the government has agreed for the rally to be held in stadium.
'Special treatment' for Bersih 2.0
However, Khalid insisted that government's agreement is not an excuse to bypass legal process.
“She is a former president of the Bar Council, she should understand the law. Although the government has allowed (the rally in a stadium), they still need to comply with the legal process,” he explained.
He further pointed out that the law requires that a permit should be applied for one week before the rally, but Bersih 2.0 is given special treatment because it was sanctioned by the government.
When asked why the unregistered Patriot movement initiated by Umno Youth is not deemed as illegal organisation and action taken against them, Khalid argued that it is not gazetted as an illegal organisation by the government.
“Don't ask me why Patriot is not gazetted. The police are just enforcers of the laws.” - Malaysiakini
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