Perkasa rally on, unless permit withheld

Perkasa and its NGO partners have decided to go ahead with their rally on Saturday - and are eyeing Stadium Merdeka, which is already in the sights of Bersih 2.0, as well.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said an application has been made for use of this and two other facilities - Stadium Negara and Stadium Titiwangsa.

"If (Bersih 2.0) has its rally, (online news) portals likeMalaysiakini (and)The Malaysian Insider will splash it all over the world that the people have rejected (the) Najib (administration),” he claimed in Kuala Lumpur today.

"That's why we want to have our own rally to show that there are others who feel differently... the silent majority.”

However, Ibrahim said, Perkasa would not proceed if it does not receive a police permit as the group feels "bound by loyalty to the Agong".

He added that Perkasa has sought an audience with the Agong through a letter sent at 12.45pm today, and hopes the ruler will receive them before Saturday.

“We hope to have an audience to explain our position and to seek advise,” he said.

Asked if Perkasa, which has about 15,000 people registered to attend its rally, will go ahead if the Agong says no to their plans, Ibrahim said: “If he advises so, we will obey (junjung duli) but we want to also look at what the other side (Bersih 2.0) is doing,” he said.

He said this after a two-and-a-half hour meeting with Perkasa supreme council members, all of whom were wearing red headbands with the words 'Gerak Aman' (Peace movement) and T-shirts which declare that Perkasa is out to 'pertahankan keselamatan negara' (defend national security).

'Bersih 2.0 shouldn't get permit'

Ibrahim added that he saw no reason why the police should deny them a permit but all the reasons why Bersih 2.0's rally should not be allowed according to Section 27 of the Police Act.

He said that an illegal organisation cannot be granted a permit, nor any individuals if it can be shown that they are doing it on behalf of the illegal body.

Further, he said, the discovery of communist elements and weapons linked to Bersih 2.0 raise suspicion that militant groups have infiltrated the movement.

“The prime minister should listen to the police, no political decision can be made when it comes to national security, even if it is in the interest of the ruling (coalition).

“If Bersih 2.0 gets the permit, then there is no reason why we shouldn't.

“Going against the Agong's decree is treacherous... and police can act against (those who do so) as they had they treated (militant group) al-Maunah,” he said.

Perkasa has also sent a request to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak “tomorrow or the day after”.

Malaysiakini, however, understands that the premier is due to be overseas in the next few days.

Perkasa and Umno Youth had planned to hold separate street rallies against Bersih 2.0 on July 9, and said they will only back down if the latter group does.

Bersih 2.0 today announced that it intends to apply to hold its rally at Stadium Merdeka, after it agreed to take if off the streets following an audience with the Agong.

However, the stadium operators claim that the venue is occupied on the day.

The Selangor government has offered the coalition for clean and fair elections the use of a stadium in Shah Alam.

Despite the audience with the ruler, the coalition is still considered illegal by the police who have continued with its crackdown on activities relating to Bersih 2.0. - Malaysiakini