We will march if EC heads do not resign, say NGOs

A coalition of NGOs has warned that unless the Election Commission (EC) heads step down or are fired due to alleged electoral fraud, the people will take to the streets.

Following the ninth Black 505 ‘People’s Gathering’ last weekend in Petaling Jaya, the organisers, of which  Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) is one, said the rally marks “only the beginning”.

“We are giving a final warning from the people that they are prepared to walk peacefully, if the EC (chiefs) are still not fired or if they do not step down.

“The people are now prepared to take to the streets anytime starting now, for the sake of our democracy that has been blackened,” said the Suara Rakyat 505 coalition in a statement today.

The group said there was only one answer acceptable to “all the fraud that has taken place in the May 5 general election”, that is for those responsible in the EC to step down before steps to restore democracy and before any further elections take place.

The group also called on 500,000 volunteers to march to the EC’s office to call for the resignation of the EC heads by registering at their website.

“The registration will also be considered a statement of the people to call for all the highest leaders of the EC to resign,” said the group.

The Black 505 rally on Saturday saw an estimated 70,000 rally against alleged fraud during the last general election.

Following the series of events, a number of opposition leaders and a student activist have been detained.

Today, six Pakatan leaders - two from Perak and one each in Negri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang and Penang - were separately charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Suara Rakyat 505 today said SAMM leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin (right), aka Chegubard, had received a police notice to report to the Seremban district police headquarters at noon today.