Electoral reform advocacy group Bersih today hit out at  the Malacca state legislative assembly’s resolution to censure its July 28 rally, as going against the federal government stand on the matter.

“The federal government did not declare Bersih’s rally on April 28, 2012 as illegal nor had it banned the gathering,” said the group in a statement.

NONE They pointed to public announcements made by Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein (right) and quoted by the media, as testimony to this:

                    

“ Kerajaan tiada masalah membenarkan perhimpunan BERSIH 3.0 dilangsungkan seperti dirancang selagi penganjur mematuhi Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2011 dan tidak menimbulkan sebarang gangguan. ” (The government has no problems allowing the Bersih 3.0 rally to proceed as planned as long as the organisers adhere to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 and does not create public disturbances.)

“ Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berkata, atas semangat akta yang baru digubal itu, kerajaan tidak akan melarangnya .” (Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that in the spirit of the new Act, the government will not prohibit it)

Bersih also claimed that the resolution by the Malacca state assembly had irresponsibly denied the rakyat their constitutional freedom.

“It also meant that they had blanked out the rakyat’s call for clean and fair elections, a right that any accountable and responsible state government should support.”

Bersih also criticised the Malacca legislature for ignoring  “severe incidents of police brutality” which occured during the rally in their resolution.

NONE They also strongly urged the state assembly representatives of Malacca to immediately withdraw their resolution.

The group was commenting on the July 2 resolution passed by the Malacca state legislative assembly condemning the pro-electoral reform rally which it said was an illegal demonstration organised by an illegal organisation.

On July 28, over 200,000 people flooded the federal capital of Kuala Lumpur to demand clean and fair elections.

The initially peaceful rally turned violent when police reacted to a single breach of their cordon with tear gas and chemically-laced water, as well as kicks and punches being applied by law enforcement officers all over the city against protesters and the press.

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