Dennis Ngau
Peter Kallang
Alan Ling
MIRI: The people here have mixed feelings about the decision made by Bersih 2.0 organisers to go ahead with the July 9 rally but in a stadium and not on the street.
The decision was announced by its chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan after an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara on Tuesday.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said he was always against illegal rallies because it could bring
about many negative consequences to the people and country.
“I thank God for His intervention through Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. They have prevented untold disaster from happening by getting the proposed Bersih 2.0 street rally off the street,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Dennis, who is also Telang Usan PBB Youth chief and deputy information chief of PBB Youth, said he believed the rally organised must have thought they could achieve whatever agenda they might have on the streets.
“The aftermath of previous street rallies held in our country and in other counties is for all to see. Even when the organisers guaranteed that their rallies would be peaceful, untold destruction to properties and injuries to people often happened,” he said.
Dennis believed that the July 9 rally was politically motivated based on its timing and the people behind it.
“I’m also perplexed with the reason given in support of the street demonstration by Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, the Menteri Besar of Selangor. He said that the rally was to voice the demands of the people and it was for the future generation. What kind of example is there to be learned by our young generation with all the chaos created by illegal rallies?”
Dennis added that Telang Usan PBB Youth supported all initiatives taken by the government, and that include joining other BN Youth members to mount counter rallies if requested to do so.
Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong, meanwhile, said he respected the decision of Bersih 2.0 to call off the street rally. It is a “positive step” and a clear show of respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“The onus now lies with the Najib administration to lift the ban on Bersih 2.0. Up to now some 200 arrests have been made by the police based on unjustifiable grounds such as wearing Bersih t-shirts.
“The police must drop the charges immediately and release those under remand, such PKR’s Zulhaidah Suboh. The Home Minister should also release all six individuals detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), including Sungei Siput MP Dr. Jayakumar.”
Meanwhile, Peter Kallang, who is the chairman of Persatuan Kenyah Miri (PKM) and Orang Ulu National Association (Miri), described the eight demands by Bersih as “reasonable and necessary”.
This is because the eight points are some of the basic characteristics which are “justifiably expected of a country which is elected by and answerable to the civil society”.
“These demands are not new as they have been in the public arena for a long time, yet the responds could either be pending or not fulfilling. So I can well understand why the rally is the next step.”
Peter said Ambiga and her boys had clearly showed they are reasonable people and one who were willing to listen to reason by taking the rally off the streets and into a stadium after the audience with the King.
He added that holding the rally in a stadium is perhaps the best alternative to avoid irresponsible elements from hijacking the event for their own immoral objectives.
“My view is that we must keep the original objective of the even foremost in our mind. The objective of the event is inclusive and good for every Malaysian, irrespective of background, so that we will continue to progress as responsible society upholding justice for each one of us.
“An open, transparent and just society is vital to achieve developed nation status by 2020.”
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