Bersih Sabah to challenge May 1 Court Order

The NGO condemns the Court Order for the way the police are denying the people their rights, under the Federal Constitution, to assemble peacefully.

KOTA KINABALU: Bersih Sabah has not been served any Court Order, or notice of any intention by the police to obtain such an Order to stop the May 1 Assembly planned by over 50 NGOs at the Padang Merdeka in Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah Bersih spokesperson Jannie Lasimbang also confirmed that its legal team was ready to challenge the Court Order when served. “It was obtained ex-parte,” she said. “If indeed there’s such a Court Order, Bersih Sabah condemns it for the way that the police are denying the people their rights, under the Federal Constitution, to assemble peacefully.”

“This is just creating chaos for everyone.”

She was commenting on City police chief Assist Comm M. Chandra reportedly holding a press conference this afternoon on the Court Order. The police plan to serve the Court Order, effective April 27 to May 3, on the event organizer and 15 others who have been identified as taking part in the May 1 Assembly.

A statement issued by the police in Kota Kinabalu said five areas would be off-limits to those who intended to take part in the May 1 Assembly at Padang Merdeka. Besides Padang Merdeka, they include Taman Chong Thien Vun, City Park, Segama Waterfront, and City Hall. The areas closed include the vicinity of the five places.

Two deputy chief ministers, Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Yahya Hussein, have already warned that the NGO must abide by the laws and not misuse the democratic process.

Briefly, the Assembly has several objectives:

• get the Sabah Government to cancel dubious ICs although they stand inherently void
• issue a Sabah IC to replace the MyKad
• clean up the electoral rolls
• abolish Section 9A of the Election Act
• resolve the illegal immigrant issue
• make public the notes of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Hearing

The Assembly would also highlight the GST issue and land rights.