The Pakatan Rakyat governments in Selangor and Penang should have offered places for the organisers of the Bersih gathering if they were sincere in championing rights of speech and gathering.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said since the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 was approved, the Selangor and Penang governments had not offered any special place as stated in the act for gathering purposes.

“The opposition politicians including the organisers of Bersih use Article 10(1)(b) of the federal constitution which provided that all citizens had the right to assemble peacefully and without weapons.

“But what about Article 10(2)(b) which stated about the right and freedom of other people such as enjoying their property peacefully, freedom to move about, right to enjoy the natural surroundings and the right to trade,” he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

In fact, Nur Jazlan said the government via the Royal Malaysia Police, on the other hand, gave room to any quarters to assemble peacefully as outlined in the act.

This included allowing the Merdeka Stadium to be used for ‘Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat #KL112' on Jan 12, 2013 and the Kelana Jaya Stadium for ‘Blackout 505' on May 8, 2013, he said.

He said the Pakatan leaders only stoked the fire of hatred against the federal government for not allowing the Bersih gatherings to be held, whilst the Selangor and Penang state governments just kept quiet.

“Maybe, the state governments of Selangor and Penang could provide food and more comfortable equipment if the gatherings were held in the two states, and the Bersih participants need not bring along food and tents,” he said.

Nur Jazlan said Pakatan’s insincerity was proven in Selangor when the Shah Alam City Hall, which prior to this had allowed the Shah Alam Stadium to be used as a gathering venue, withdrew the decision without reason.

He also rapped law practitioners who were selective in interpreting PAA 2012 by stating the people were free to gather anywhere, whereas the gathering must get the approval of police and the owner of the venue.

- Bernama