Bersih has called for an end to the “harassment and intimidation” of its co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, urging Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ismail Omar to act against those involved in the protests against her.
The electoral reform pressure group is worried that the lack of action would be seen as tacit approval of such demonstrations, Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said (right) said in separate letters to both parties.
“We are deeply concerned that the failure of (DBKL and the IGP) to take the necessary remedial and preventive action will be viewed as being tantamount to an endorsement of these (activities),” Samad says in the two letters.
In the letter to the IGP, he highlighted last week’s incident in Merlimau, Malacca, where two DAP assemblypersons were pelted with eggs and stones at an event meant to feature Ambiga.
“The incident clearly constitutes an act of harassment and criminal intimidation directed at Ambiga and a real threat to her safety and security,” he said.
The electoral reform pressure group is worried that the lack of action would be seen as tacit approval of such demonstrations, Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said (right) said in separate letters to both parties.“We are deeply concerned that the failure of (DBKL and the IGP) to take the necessary remedial and preventive action will be viewed as being tantamount to an endorsement of these (activities),” Samad says in the two letters.
In the letter to the IGP, he highlighted last week’s incident in Merlimau, Malacca, where two DAP assemblypersons were pelted with eggs and stones at an event meant to feature Ambiga.
“The incident clearly constitutes an act of harassment and criminal intimidation directed at Ambiga and a real threat to her safety and security,” he said.
Noting that Bersih was fully aware that both the IGP and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail were not supportive of the coalition’s activities, Samad said it was no excuse for failing to act against the people responsible for the incidents.
Any “untoward incident” that might occur as a result of their inaction may lead to legal liability on their part for “dereliction of duty and responsibility”, he warned.
The national laureate also joked that an “apparent lack of adequate public recreation facilities” was to blame for the ‘butt exercise’ demonstration outside Ambiga’s house.
Samad also expressed concern that the retired veterans would have trouble getting medical attention if any one of them suffered a medical emergency in front of her house.
“(This) has sadly forced the group of retired armed forces personnel to have to resort to conducting static exercises on the road outside (Ambiga’s) house,” he says in the letter.
“As this is not a designated public recreation area, we are also concerned that if any of these retired armed forces personnel were to suffer a medical emergency, emergency medical assistance may not easily locate them.”
Samad concluded that the protests “clearly constitute” acts of harassment and intimidation directed towards the Bersih leader and her family, and called on both the IGP and the mayor to take immediate action.
“We look forward to immediate and positive action (by both sides),” he said.
On May 10, a group of traders had set up burger stalls outside Ambiga's house to highlight income they claimed to have lost from lost business during the Bersih 3.0 protest.
Five days later, a group of army veterans performed ‘butt exercises’ against Ambiga, calling her an ‘enemy of the state’ who had ‘smeared’ the country's name by organising the rally for electoral reform.
In addition, the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council is planning to set up a two-day market outside of her home, tomorrow and on Friday, in yet another anti-Bersih protest.
Any “untoward incident” that might occur as a result of their inaction may lead to legal liability on their part for “dereliction of duty and responsibility”, he warned.
The national laureate also joked that an “apparent lack of adequate public recreation facilities” was to blame for the ‘butt exercise’ demonstration outside Ambiga’s house.Samad also expressed concern that the retired veterans would have trouble getting medical attention if any one of them suffered a medical emergency in front of her house.
“(This) has sadly forced the group of retired armed forces personnel to have to resort to conducting static exercises on the road outside (Ambiga’s) house,” he says in the letter.
“As this is not a designated public recreation area, we are also concerned that if any of these retired armed forces personnel were to suffer a medical emergency, emergency medical assistance may not easily locate them.”
Samad concluded that the protests “clearly constitute” acts of harassment and intimidation directed towards the Bersih leader and her family, and called on both the IGP and the mayor to take immediate action.
“We look forward to immediate and positive action (by both sides),” he said.
On May 10, a group of traders had set up burger stalls outside Ambiga's house to highlight income they claimed to have lost from lost business during the Bersih 3.0 protest.
Five days later, a group of army veterans performed ‘butt exercises’ against Ambiga, calling her an ‘enemy of the state’ who had ‘smeared’ the country's name by organising the rally for electoral reform.
In addition, the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council is planning to set up a two-day market outside of her home, tomorrow and on Friday, in yet another anti-Bersih protest.
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