BN’s threats that Bank Negara could freeze the assets of Bersih 2.0 rally participants was “irresponsible” and would “destroy Malaysia’s financial reputation” and drive away investment, said Lim Guan Eng today.

NONE In his speech at DAP’s national leadership retreat in Seremban, the party secretary general ( left ) slammed Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin’s statement that those participating in the rally and receiving funds from non-profit foreign NGOs face the possibility of having their assets frozen, should police investigations recommend it.

Bernama yesterday reported the deputy minister saying this in response to a reporter’s question about Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan receiving funds from foreign NGOs.

“If assets can be frozen just for participating in a peaceful assembly or for receiving funds from non-profit foreign NGOs, then many innocent Malaysians and organisations will be unfairly victimised,” said Lim.

The Penang chief minister said this was an abuse of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act cited by Awang, that empowered the central bank to not only bar access to such funds but also to trace the offender’s accounts’ transactions.

NONE “Would others involved in ‘illegal assemblies’ like Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin have their assets frozen?” he asked.

Instead of using the Act against the peaceful rally for free and fair elections on July 9, Lim asked why the government was not instead acting against those suspected of high level corruption.

“For instance, no such action was taken against those suspected of secretly taking out RM888 billion in illicit money over a 9 year period.”

The government had come down hard on both the organisers and supporters of the rally with massive crackdowns prior to the event and heavy-handed police action against the marchers on Saturday.

Many of Bersih’s organising members as well as opposition leader have been continuously persecuted during the period.

‘BN responsible, not Bersih’

Instead of continuing the crackdown on Bersih, the chief minister said BN should own up to the use of force against the rally.

NONE “The BN government only has itself to blame for the negative image overseas, portrayed by the international news media for its harsh crackdown on the peaceful protest Bersih,” said Lim.

“The BN government should clean up Malaysia’s image by owning up its mistakes such as firing tear gas into Tung Shin Hospital, insulting the Hindus and the Indian community by calling for the revocation of S Ambiga’s citizenship, detaining A Samad Said because his poems is considered a weapon and apologising for the brutal crackdown,” he said.

With ample documented evidence of the police’s transgressions, Lim said BN only “had itself to blame” for the negative image overseas and likened the BN government to “repressive Arab regimes in the Middle East”.