PAS wants in on audience with Agong

PAS is hoping to join the Bersih 2.0 delegation that is seeking an audience with the Agong to explain the movement's demands to facilitate free and fair elections.

Party president Abdul Hadi Awang said in a statement today that the party seeks to clarify any "confusion" that has arisen from the "negative coverage" against Bersih 2.0's intended peaceful rally on July 9.

"As a result of this confusion, it has caused provocation by certain groups, giving the impression that the situation is now out of control to the point where the nation's laws are no longer respected by the authorities," he said.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, his deputy Mohamad Sabu said that if PAS was part of the Bersih 2.0 delegation, the party would inform the Agong about how the law was being abused by the authorities.

"We will complain about the non-compliance of the law by the police in trying to thwart the rally by making arbituary arrests," he said.

PAS: Bersih calls the shots

Yesterday, the Agong issued a rare press statement which called on rally organisers and the authorities to negotiate.

One such organiser is Bersih 2.0, a coalition of 60 NGOs seeking electoral reforms, who is now seeking an audience with the Agong.

To a question, Mohamad said that at this point, there has been no instructions from the organisers to have the July 9 rally cancelled.

However, he said PAS will abide to any decision taken by the Bersih 2.0 steering committee in regards to the rally.

In his statement, Abdul Hadi also urged the federal government to properly study protests against the current electoral system in an "open and sincere" manner, in line with the Agong's wish to see the government "perform its entrusted duties fairly and wisely".

Abdul Hadi said that there are weaknesses in the current electoral system which had allowed cheating, corruption, abuse of power and lopsided media coverage, which did not bode well for democracy.

Police must heed Agong's statement

Meanwhile, PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar said that the police must cease their string of arbituary arrests because the Agong had called for negotiations.

"Bersih is reading to negotiate but the police is closing the door for negotiations," he said at the same press conference.

Since June 25, more than 100 individuals, including several MPs and state assemblypersons, have been arrested in connection to the Bersih rally.

Mahfuz also claimed that the Agong's statement was also a tacit endorsement for Bersih because "nothing negative was said about Bersih".

"In fact, His Majesty urged the government to act fairly. This is a recognition for Bersih," he said. - Malaysiakini