Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah has questioned the need for the movement to apologise over an incident where protesters stomped on a picture of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang during the Bersih 4 rally held the weekend.

She said this today in response to former law minister Zaid Ibrahim who called on the polls reform pressure group to apologise over the incident.

"No, that (the picture-stepping incident) was not our initiative. That was not even part of our programme and we don't even know who the persons are.

"Did we incite that? No, I don't think so," she told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Maria ( photo ), however, said that they were 'outraged' that the incident had happened.

Pressed further whether Bersih would apologise over the incident, she said: "We definitely don't condone it, but apologise when we are not the ones who did it?"

Following the incident, PAS members have called it disrespectful and police reports have been lodged.

Maria, meanwhile, stressed that Bersih did not intend for such incidents to occur.

"It didn't come from the organiser. I can vouch for all the NGOs and all the people who are part of the organising committee.

"We will never ask anyone to do that. We don't go around pouring red paint and burning effigies.

"Why didn't Zaid ask those people to apologise to me?" she asked, citing the incident where the red-shirted anti-Bersih group poured red paint and stomped on an effigy of Maria.

Najib's image hit with slipper

Maria was also asked on the other incidents highlighted by pro-Umno blogs such as protesters hitting an image of Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor with a slipper as well as kicking an inflated punching bag with Najib's caricature.

"We don't agree with those kind of actions. But did Umno say anything about my effigy which was poured with red paint? They didn't.

"If they want to talk about this, they should be equally critical of their own people," she said.

Meanwhile, asked on Umno Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan ( photo ) who earlier today said he was sending a bill to Bersih on the cost of cleaning the area where the Bersih rally was held, Maria said it was "very disappointing" that many had missed the point of what the rally was all about.

"We are asking for democratic reforms, it has nothing to do with tarnishing the government, Najib or Hadi.

"After the crowd dispersed, my volunteers cleaned up the streets when it is Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)'s role and responsibility to do so," she said.

In a statement later, Bersih denounced the incident and stressed the 34-hour rally was held to call for institutional reforms to a "corrupted system and the resignation of Najib".

"The stepping on pictures was carried out by a small group and was not part of the official program of the Bersih organising committee.

"It is regrettable that so much attention has been given to this unfortunate incident, instead of focusing on hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who conducted themselves with exemplary maturity and civility."

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