Bersih crackdown: Is Malaysia a fascist state?

Hazlan ZakariaPublished: Jun 29, 2011 5:02 PM | Updated: Jun 29, 2011 8:37 PM

Disturbed by the ongoing police crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 gathering planned for July 9, Batu MP Tian Chua worries that Malaysia may moving farther away from the practise of a "healthy democracy".

"It is as if Malaysia a fascist state," bemoaned Tian Chua at a press conference in the lobby of Parliament today.

NONE The PKR leader then touched on today's police raid on the Bersih secretariat, which saw files and documents confiscated and seven civilian staff arrested and taken to the Petaling Jaya district police station.

"This is an NGO, only doing its job within the bounds of the law, so why must they be intimidated?" Tian Chua asked.

He said that the government's stand on the peaceful Bersih gathering was contradictory to its decision to allow demonstrations on selected matters, in particular those by organisations close to the ruling coalition.

Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, who was also present, questioned Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's announcement earlier today that it was an offence for anyone to wear the distinctive yellow 'Bersih' T-shirt.

'Martians behind Bersih?'

"It is hilarious, that in our laws, we are not even allowed to wear Bersih T-shirts," Mahfuz said.

He asked what was illegal about Bersih that the police were reacting so belligerently.

Hishammuddin should also come clean on what it was about Bersih that breaks any law, to the extent that the minister declared it an illegal organisation.

The Pokok Sena MP also questioned why Umno Youth and Malay rights NGO Perkasa, which planned to hold their rallies at the same time and place as Bersih, were not only allowed to wear their red T-shirts, but could also go on with their preparations unimpeded .

"Now they are talking about foreigners being involved. What next? Are they going to say that Bersih is being funded by aliens from Mars?" he asked.