Nur Jazlan: Police wise to ban pre-Merdeka Day rally

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision by police to ban the Bersih 4.0 rally on Aug 29 and 30 is wise, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

He said no other country in the world had a police force as accommodating as that in Malaysia.

“In other countries, demonstrators have to conduct themselves according to rules set by the police,” he said after the National Heroes Award Service Medal ceremony here yesterday.

The ceremony was to honour retired police officers who fought against communism du­ring the Emergency.

City police had banned the Bersih 4.0 rally following Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) decision not to allow the gathering to be held at Dataran Merdeka and Padang Merbok.

Instead, DBKL had recommended that the rally be held a week after Merdeka Day celebration on Aug 31.

Questioning why organisers had refused to organise the rally on the dates recommended by DBKL, Nur Jazlan said having it at the two venues would only disrupt preparations for the celebration.

“Preparations such as dress rehearsals will be held on the few days leading to Merdeka Day. If Bersih decides to continue demonstrating at the same venues, it will disturb the preparations and incur big cost for the police.

“Police will not only have to control the demonstrators but participants rehearsing for the celebration as well,” he said.

Choosing to take part in the rally, he said, was not a measure of one’s patriotism towards the country.

“Just because some in Bersih claim that the rally is for the importance of democracy, it does not mean the rest of the 30 million people in the country are not patriotic.

“Commemorating Merdeka Day and the contribution of police officers who sacrificed their lives fighting communism is more patriotic than joining a demonstration,” he said.