The actions of the police in blockading Kuala Lumpur due to the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for this Saturday is an affront to the Agong as well as the prime minister, both of whom have consented to the gathering to call for clean and fair elections.

NONE Saying this today, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua ( left ) also called on the police to cease their “reckless clampdown” on Bersih supporters by unconditionally releasing all those arrested and detained over the rally, which had earlier been planned to take place on the streets of Kuala Lumpur but has now been mooted to be held at a stadium.

“We call upon the police to instead cooperate with Bersih to ensure that the gathering on 9 July will proceed smoothly with hindrance and minimal inconvenience to the general public, and uphold our constitution which grants Malaysians the freedom of assembly and expression,” said Pua, who is also member of parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara.

NONE Expressing the party’s full support for Bersih chairperson Sreenevasan Ambiga’s announcement that the coalition wishes to hold its rally at the Stadium Merdeka , Pua also said DAP fully endorses the call for the set up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into reforms of the electoral system.

Calling for the police to stop all moves to charge those previously arrested or questioned over the Bersih rally, Pua also described as “a complete mockery” the move to charge 11 members of the Klang Municipal Council for wearing Bersih T-shirts in a recent board meeting.

The crackdown on activities related to rally has continued without let-up despite the group agreeing to move its rally to a stadium.

In Negri Sembilan yesterday, two PKR activists were arrested for possession of Bersih-related paraphernalia.

badrul hisham shaharin altantuya police questioning 290509 03 According to Rembau PKR division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin,  party colleague R Tangam was nabbed while wearing a Bersih 2.0 T-shirt.

Tangam was said to have been quizzed at the Seremban district police headquarters for about three hours and later released.

Norliza Shamsudin, 49, was nabbed after it was found that she had a Bersih 2.0 button badge inside her pocket, claimed Badrul Hisham.

Norliza was said to have been arrested at 1pm and as at 1am, she had yet to be released. Badrul Hisham said Norliza was also denied visitation rights.

"The police are acting beyond the law. Bersih 2.0 has met the Agong and it was agreed that the rally would be held in the stadium," said Badrul Hisham when contacted.

"But the police are continuing to put pressure on the movement. This can be construed as going against the monarch."

Legal briefing halted

Later last night, a legal briefing for a group of Subang PAS and PKR members was thwarted when police cordoned off a hall in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

According to lawyer Farhana Abdul Halim, the Subang PKR division had invited her group - Lawyers for Liberty - to conduct a briefing on the rights of citizens upon arrest.

NONE She said that about 50 police personnel had stopped party members from entering the premises on the basis that a permit was required to hold the event.

"We are very disappointed with the police, especially after Bersih 2.0 had met the Agong. It has the green light to go on (with the rally).

"To argue that this group does not have a permit is baseless. You don't need a permit for a indoor meeting. Such matters should not even be brought up after the latest developments (yesterday)," she said when contacted.

Just after the interruption at Kota Damansara, three participants of the legal aid workshop were nabbed by the police at Section 18, Glenmarie, Shah Alam, on their way home at 2.30am.

The three - Mohd Fariz Musa, Juzaharim Isma Junaidi and Mohd Yusof Alsidek - were arrested under Section 47 of the Societies Act 1966 for possession of outlawed Bersih T-shirts and held overnight at the USJ police headquarters.

Farhana, who is also representing them, said that the police have recorded their statements but have refused to free the three without the green light from Selangor police contingent headquarters.

NONE “The IO (investigating officer) said they have to wait, but all they have to do is to let them go on police bail,” said Farhana.

Yesterday, Ambiga ( right ) was granted an audience by the Agong where the Saturday rally was discussed.

Following this, Ambiga said that Bersih 2.0 would take the offer by the authorities to hold the rally in a stadium instead of holding a march from downtown Kuala Lumpur to Istana Negara.

Initially, Bersih 2.0 had planned to hold the march to raise awareness about the need for electoral reform and submit a petition to the Agong on the matter.

Over the past two weeks, the police have launch a massive clampdown on Bersih 2.0 related activities including arresting those with the movement's paraphernalia.

Six people, including a parliamentarian, have been detained under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows detention without trial, while close to 150 people were detained and released after interrogation.

Meanwhile, motorists complained this morning of massive jams during the peak hour, due to police roadblocks along major roads around the Klang Valley.

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