Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s threat to act against Bersih 4 protesters after the rally violates internationally-recognised rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

This is according to Human Rights Watch Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson.

"Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are internationally guaranteed rights that Malaysia is bound to respect, and if the deputy PM needs a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we will be happy to send it to him," Robertson said in a statement today.

If those rights are violated, he warned, there will be "serious consequences" for Malaysia's international reputation.

He added the threat only betrayed the ruling government’s abusive streak.

"The deputy prime minister's threat to take legal action against Bersih organisers for what was a peaceful, well-organised protest clearly demonstrates the rights abusing orientation of this Malaysian government," Robertson said.

Yesterday Zahid warned that action might still be taken against Bersih 4 rally participants after the rally.

This is despite the fact that no protesters in Kuala Lumpur were arrested during the two-day rally that ended just past midnight.

No arrests, 'yet'

"There were no arrests or trouble. No arrest does not mean no action would be taken by police, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and other enforcement agencies.

"We are monitoring the situation and keeping track of the actions and every word in the speeches of leaders at the assembly.

“We are also keeping track of those behind the rally," Zahid said yesterday after officiating the Ipoh Timor Umno division meeting in Ipoh, according to theSun .

Specifically, he said, action would be taken against those who wore the yellow Bersih 4 T-shirt, which was banned on Friday.

Anyone else who broke the law during the rally would also be arrested, the home minister warned.

"Do not accuse us of being cruel or oppressing them when we take action against the law breakers. They have to face the consequences of their actions," Zahid said.

The police would take action under the appropriate laws, he said, whether it be the Peaceful Assembly Act, Sedition Act or the Penal Code.

Rakyat reclaim Merdeka

The weekend Bersih 4 rally lasted 34 hours, although many protesters started gathering earlier on Saturday.

At the peak of the rally, there were about 100,000 protesters on the streets of Kuala Lumpur concentrated in Jalan Raja, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and the surrounding areas.

Despite many warnings about possible police crackdown, the rally stayed peaceful throughout, with police maintaining minimal presence around Dataran Merdeka.

The rally was organised to make five demands: fair and clean elections, saving the national economy, the right to protest, the strengthening of parliamentary democracy and a transparent economy.

Relive the historic two-day rally at Malaysiakini 's LIVE reports page .

Live reports also in Malay and Chinese .

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