Najib uses King's words to pressure Bersih

PUTRAJAYA - The Government is willing to provide a stadium for Bersih 2.0 to hold their rally, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the government would not object if the organiser from the beginning said they would assemble in a stadium from morning to night and later leave peacefully.

“Go on, assemble in the stadium and yell and shout till you are drained,

“Do it, its okay. No problem but don't do the street demonstration because it could bring a risk that is very harmful to our country,” he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly Monday .

Najib said if they were so adamant in submitting a memorandum and the like or even to show dissent in a democracy, they could deal with the authorities.

“Deal nicely and we are willing to prepare a stadium for them to assemble.

“But when they refused and instead insisted on having a street demonstration, it must be because of other intentions,” he said.

He reiterated that street demonstration was not the answer to any issue which could be settled in other ways

Najib said there were parties who were not happy with the election system and claimed that the electoral rolls did not guarantee a free and fair election.

“If that so, how come we lost in five states in 2008 and now the Election Commission is studying the possibility on introducing the biometric system to counter accusation on phantom voters.

“But it is strange that when they won, all quiet and no tales on phantom voters and when they felt that the election is near, this tales will resurface.

“So, the rally is not so much on rectifying the system but the motif is politics...to gain power undemocratically through street demonstration,” he said.

Najib said when a street demonstration takes place, there was no guarantee that it would be a peaceful one.

“Many would join in...those who love rioting and like to create disorder will join in and it will result in a situation which we want to avoid,” he said.

He added that the public should take heed of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's thoughts on the Bersin 2.0's proposed rally.

- The Star