Bersih S'pore insists only M'sians involved in rally

No Singaporeans were involved in a training program that has been alleged to be an effort to interfere in Malaysia's upcoming general election, said its organiser, Bersih in a statement yesterday.

"Bersih Singapore would like to emphasise that the event mentioned was a Malaysian event, organised by Malaysians, for Malaysians only.

"It was held in Singapore simply because the participants wereMalaysians living in Singapore," said Ong Guan Sin, who coordinates the electoral reform coalition's efforts in the republic.

In a series of postings since June 15, the pro-government blog MyMassa had accused three Singaporean diplomats of alleged interference in Malaysia's domestic affairs by participating in the Bersih 3.0 rally, one of them supposedly in a yellow T-shirt.

In addition, the blog had also posted 31 pictures from the Bersih Singapore's training session for Malaysian expats to be polling and counting agents (Paca).

"Watch the People's Action Party (PAP) volunteer coaching the other PAP volunteers to help DAP in the 13th general election!" the anonymous blogger wrote on June 18.

The story was later picked up by Malay daily Utusan Malaysiacolumnist Zaini Hassan on June 20, who said that it would be "shocking if true".

The blogger then wrote that following the publication of Zaini's column, a number of NGOs had contacted him expressing interest in organising a protest before the Singapore High Commission after Friday prayers.

However, checks by Malaysiakini at the High Commission's temporary office in Kuala Lumpur did not find sign of any protest.

Instead, some 20 police officers, including from the Light Strike Force, stood guard outside the commission's premises till about 2.30pm.

English daily The Star had also quoted Singapore High Commissioner Ong Key Yong saying that the three diplomats were present at the pro-electoral reform rally in their personal capacities, and none wore yellow Bersih T-shirts.