From tear gas on the streets to house arrest, Bersih signals 'fight'

 

After taking thousands of Malaysians to the streets alongside Pakatan Harapan and Anwar Ibrahim, enduring tear gas, water cannons and mass arrests, including of its own leaders, Bersih now finds itself deeply dismayed as Najib Abdul Razak is allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Signalling that it would not let the decision pass without protest, the electoral watchdog said it would convene an emergency meeting with civil society partners, youth movements and student groups to determine its next course of action.

However, Bersih stressed that this should not be viewed as disrespecting the Agong’s decision or as an act of disloyalty towards the monarch.

“A decision made without clear explanations and acceptable conditions will make it difficult for the public to accept that a corrupt individual can sleep soundly in a comfortable home and on a soft bed.

“While activists fighting and campaigning against corruption have had their accounts frozen and their movements restricted, those involved in corruption and abuse of power are instead given discounts and pardons. The people have only one word - fight,” it added.

Bersih, which issued a media statement this evening titled “The Corruptor Lives in a Luxury Home, While Honest Malaysians Struggle in Hardship”, described the latest development as “a devastating blow to the pursuit of justice and the Malaysian people's fight against corruption”.

“Malaysians have long voiced their concerns over corruption, and the Agong himself has called on the government to combat corruption. By allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home, this will undoubtedly send a deeply confusing message to the public.

“On one hand, we are fighting corruption and abuse of power; on the other, those implicated in and convicted of corruption and abuse of power can be released,” it added.

Poor precedent

Bersih pointed out that the 1MDB scandal was proof of massive wrongdoing involving public funds and the national interest, with billions lost and the country continuing to shoulder a huge debt as a result of the misappropriation.

“This has become a dark chapter in our nation's history. The case has even become a subject of discussion around the world.

“What is more, this leniency has been granted without the public being informed, let alone being asked whether they agreed with him being pardoned and granted house arrest status,” it added.

Bersih also expressed concern that the Pardons Board’s decision was setting a poor precedent.

“If Najib is granted the leniency of serving his sentence under house arrest at a residence that is certainly larger and more luxurious than those of ordinary Malaysians, does this mean that, going forward, if former prime ministers are charged with and convicted of corruption and abuse of power, they too will be pardoned using this Najib precedent?

“Which corrupt individual will be released and pardoned next?” it asked.

The last time Bersih took to the streets in a major rally against Najib was Bersih 5 in November 2016, less than two years before his coalition suffered a historic defeat in the 2018 general election.

On Nov 18, 2016, the eve of Bersih 5, police raided the Bersih 2.0 office in Petaling Jaya and arrested the watchdog’s then chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat manager Mandeep Singh.

Maria was subsequently detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, while Mandeep was investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code. - Mkini