Bersih's Sabah vice-chairperson Jannie Lasimbang was today charged at the Kota Kinabalu magistrate's court with breaching the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA).

She was accused of failing to provide the mandatory 10-day notice for the Bersih 4 rally held on Aug 29 and 30.

In a statement today, Bersih said Jannie is the first to be charged after the Court of Appeal declared that the requirement to provide a 10-day notice under Section 9(5) to be constitutional.

"We expect more to be charged in a bid to create fear among dissenters.

"The people of Malaysia who have supported the right to dissent through Bersih 4 will continue to fight for that right," added the electoral watchdog.

Bersih also pointed out that Jannie had already been questioned by the police immediately after the Bersih 4 rally ended, along with the other organisers, volunteers and speakers.

Even though Culture and Tourism Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz said the country is democratic as there is freedom to hold peaceful rallies, Bersih noted that freedom after the rallies seems non-existent.

The Bersih 4 rally was a 34-hour affair, held over the Merdeka Day weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Among others, the rally was held to demand Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation.