Police to work with Bersih on the security aspects at the two-day rally

PETALING JAYA: The police will work with Bersih 2.0 in ensuring the security of the protesters during the two-day rally starting Aug 29.

However, Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zainol Samah said the police could not fulfil the polls watchdog’s request for all officers to be in uniform during the rally.

“Some officers will wear the police vests, some will be in uniform. We will also have those in plainclothes to run intelligence.

“If the rally is done according to the law, has received the permission of the owners of the places they wish to hold their rally and follow Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act, we have no problems with Bersih,” he said.

ACP Zainol added that three of Bersih’s steering committee members have been asked to detail their planned route and itinerary during the rally, which is to be submitted back to him by Monday. Bersih was agreeable to the terms.

Asked about Bukit Aman’s warning that action would be taken should seditious speeches are made during the rally, ACP Zainol said the police’s priority for now was the logistics and security matters arising from the rally.

Bersih is planning to hold its fourth rally on Aug 29 to 30 to demand for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to resign over his handling of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD).

Protesters are expected to gather in Sogo, Dataran Maybank, Masjid Negara, Central Market and Brickfields before marching and camping out near Dataran Merdeka.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim allowed the rally to take place according to the laws but would not tolerate calls to topple the government illegally.

Newly appointed Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed also said the Government had no qualms allowing the rally to proceed, but insisted Bersih 2.0 bear full responsibility should any violence occur.

“We will keep an open mind about the rally. If it gets out of control, the police will have no choice but to take stern action against them,” he said.

Responding to authorities, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah was of the opinion that the rally’s call for Najib to resign was not an act to topple the Government, but rather an exercise of parliamentary democracy against an institution she claims has lost the trust of the public.

“Its very unfortunate the police see it in that negative light. We are not undermining the position of the Prime Minister, we are asking for parliamentary democracy.

“It’s the institution we are going after, not Najib personally. It’s nothing personal,” she said.

Maria Chin in a statement, invited Nur Jazlan to attend the rally, as his portfolio now covers the police. She added that political parties from the Government and Opposition sides have been called to participate.