The high-handed crackdown on Bersih 2.0 has caught international attention, leading to a demonstration in Taipei, Taiwan by some 50 Malaysian students and Taiwanese activists.

NONE They demanded that the Malaysian government immediately stops all arrests of dissidents.

The one-hour demonstration organised by five Taiwanese NGOs, including human rights and labour groups, was held in front of the Malaysian Representative Office in Taipei located at Tun Hwa North Road.

A statement posted on their official Facebook page invited all Malaysians to attend the demonstration wearing yellow, as a sign of support for the activists in Malaysia.

They stressed the Bersih 2.0 rally initiated by civil society groups should be protected by the constitutional rights to assembly and freedom of expression.

“Therefore we would like to state our objections and demand that the Malaysian government stops all arrests and immediately releases all individuals arrested in related to Bersih 2.0, to be followed by a apology,” the statement read.

NONE Clad in yellow, protesters unfurled posters in Chinese and English reading 'Malaysian government hands off Bersih!', 'Stop harassing Malaysian civil movement', 'Abolish ISA (Internal Security Act)' and 'Shame on you, Najib!'

The Malaysian Representative Office sent a special assistant named Rohayu to accept the petition submitted by demonstrators, but she refused to comment on behalf of the  government.

“We will convey (the petition) to the Malaysian government but we can’t respond on behalf of the government,” she was quoted saying by a Yahoo! Taiwan news report.

‘International organisations are concerned’

According to the report, Amnesty International Taiwan deputy secretary-general Yang Tsung-li said he hoped that international support will help to release the Malaysian activists.

“The international organisations are concerned about the illegal violence by the Malaysian government. We hope the Malaysian government will abolish ISA as soon as possible and return a clean and fair election to the people of Malaysia,” he said.

NONE PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who happened to be in Taipei, also attended the demonstration.

“There were many Malaysian students at the protest. It shows that they are concerned about what is happening in their country,” he said when contacted today.

“The Bersih 2.0 rally has become an international issue. For a democratic country like Taiwan, the arrests by the Malaysian government are ridiculous.”

He added that the Taiwanese media are surprised at the blatant abuse in Malaysia's elections.

Earlier, a group of Malaysians in Taiwan announced that they will hold a simultaneous rally in Taipei on Saturday in solidarity with Bersih 2.0.

PM gives nod to rally in stadium

Bersih 2.0 accepts stadium offer for rally

Bersih 2.0 in stadium: Mixed reactions from netizens

Agong's gesture can resuscitate monarchy

Pakatan open to rally in stadium

Ambiga's audience a publicity stunt, says Perkasa

Accept proposal to rally in stadium, Asri urges Bersih

Protest in Taipei over 'illegal' anti-Bersih violence

Bring about a healthy democracy

If Bersih heeds Agong, what about Umno et al?

Gerakan: Set up RCI on elections

EC says postal voting still relevant

Redelineation not unconstitutional, says EC