Threatened with aggression, Samad cries 'peace'

Having consistently advocated peace, Bersih co-chairperson A Samad Said is deeply saddened by the reaction to the ‘Janji Bersih' rally, held in conjunction with the independence day celebration at Dataran Merdeka.

"We are just carrying out a noble cause, and for this we are accused of being kotor (dirty) and for breaking the law," lamented the national laureate, who is fondly known as Pak Samad.

Samad said this when asked about the threat from an anti-Bersih group, the Kuala Lumpur Petty Traders Action Council, that its members would "respond aggressively" if the 'Janji Bersih' gathering was to proceed on the night of Aug 30.

Malay daily Berita Harian on Monday quoted council chairperson Jamal Md Yunus as saying that he was tired of political games which he claimed caused inconvenience to the public and that the petty traders would "respond aggressively to prevent" the gathering.

The meaning of 'aggressive'

Jamal is the owner of the famed Sekinchan Ikan Bakar chain restaurant and had, prior to this, threatened to organise a ‘protest bazaar' outside Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan's house for her role in the Bersih 3.0 gathering.

Responding to the threat of aggression, Samad said: "That is his (Jamal's) right, and (we seek his) wisdom (to explain) what he means by aggressive."

He added that another meeting on the logistics and other matters pertaining to the Janji Bersih gathering will be held tonight.

Those in support of the event - which is aimed at reminding the government to fulfil its promise for clean and fair elections - will don yellow at Dataran Merdeka on the night of Aug 30 and the participants will join the government-organised countdown to Merdeka Day.