A Penang Gerakan leader has challenged opposition leaders who had formerly won their seats under Barisan Nasional ticket to come clean and explain how they “cheated” in the elections.

NONE The state legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh ( left ), in criticising the Bersih sit-in planned for tomorrow, said he is convinced the movement is being driven by those with “hidden political agenda”.

“This movement has been complaining that elections are dirty, rigged and so on. But I challenge PKR leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Chua Jui Meng and social activist Toh Kim Woon - who contested under BN previously - to come out and state how they cheated to win the election,” he quipped.

Baljit, a lawyer by profession, said the trio should come out and clarify their previous victories instead of “beating around the bush as none of them had dared to say publicly how they had done it”.

Baljit, who attended the July 9 Bersih 2.0 last year, was quick to add that he was not against freedom of assembly as the right is enshrined in the Malaysian constitution.

Meanwhile, Bersih leaders and supporters have been banned by a court order from gathering at Dataran Merdeka.

Baljit said if Pakatan leaders are really interested in wanting a clean and fair election and want to empower the people, they should agree with Gerakan’s suggestion to disallow party hopping after elections.

Leaders lacking in intellect

He added that Gerakan had raised the issue at the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform meeting, however, the latter rejected it.

In a related matter, a group of grassroot members critical of Gerakan leaders said the party cannot continue to remain “silent and bury its head inside the sand-pit” by not making a stand about Bersih.

Its spokesperson Yeap Ban Choon, who is on his way to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the sit-in, said: "It’s non-participation in this debate lends weight to the accusation that our Gerakan leaders are bankrupt of ideas and are lacking in intellect.”

Gerakan, however, has urged the public and police to cooperate to ensure a peaceful event tomorrow.

“Gerakan recognises and respects the freedom of assembly as guaranteed by the Article 10 of the Constitution of Malaysia, but freedom has to be governed by law, as the rule of law is important for not letting chaos and disorder prevail,” said its veep Mah Siew Kong.