Bersih 2.0 has slammed police for harassing its former co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 31, 2015.
Bersih 2.0 has slammed police for harassing its former co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan who has been called for questioning for allegedly urging the public to take to the streets to demand the resignation of the prime minister.
Coalition of Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) said it was appalled that Ambiga was being investigated for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
Its steering committee in a statement today said this was nothing but harassment that goes against parliamentary democracy.
"Bersih 2.0 demands to know how, by asking for a prime minister who is determined to undermine the democratic process through the buying of elections, sacking those investigating him and dismantling parliamentary inquiries, is ‘detrimental to parliamentary democracy’.
"Instead, Bersih 2.0 stresses it is the harassment of those who stand up for the democratic process that is the threat to democracy," the committee said.
The committee also reminded the authorities that parliamentary democracy was protected by fundamental rights enshrined in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, including the right to peaceful assembly.
Failing to respect this right, the committee said, is a failure to protect the spirit of Malaysia’s democracy.
"Bersih 2.0 remains committed to a transparent and democratic government.
"Despite the threats of arrest made against activists like Ambiga, we will not be deterred from taking to the streets in our struggle for these reforms," the committee said.
Ambiga, who is National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president and a prominent lawyer, is being investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years, upon conviction.
Earlier this week, Ambiga along with several other groups unveiled an "action plan" to save the country from the current crisis by proposing that a "national government" be formed beyond party lines while asking Najib to take leave of absence.
She had allegedly warned that if a proper solution was not found in the near future to deal with the situation, the people would have no choice but to take to the streets to voice their displeasure.
Ambiga is expected to be questioned at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon.
- TMI
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