Rais: ‘Bersih in a plot to overthrow govt’
By Patrick Lee, FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) is out to overthrow the government and cause social chaos, a minister said today.
Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Rais Yatim said that Bersih 2.0′s planned July 9 “Walk for Democracy” rally was nothing more than a plot to force power from the Barisan Nasional’s hands.
“It looks like these parties that are working for July 9 have no other way. They think that this is a way to shake and disrupt the peace that we have and grab power,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby.
“This is a social coup which is happening at the moment.”
Rais said that the Bersih 2.0 proponents were resorting to methods involving “illegal power grabs” and “mass psychology”.
The minister then reminded “educated and right-thinking” Malaysians to oppose Bersih, which he claimed was “evil” and “illegal according to the law”.
Rais was referring to Bersih supporters and Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) activists who were arrested by the police yesterday.
Thirty people, including Sungai Siput D Jeyakumar were remanded by the police for supposedly spreading communism.
Police claimed that the group, who were arrested while traveling in a bus near Penang, were caught with Malayan Communist Party (MCP) materials.
‘Bersih representing a minority’
Speaking in support of the arrests, Rais attacked PSM for supporting communism.
“Communism is not recognised in Malaysia, and this has been stamped in Malaysia’s struggle and in the spirit of the (Federal) Constitution, and the practice of democracy.”
“Those who want communism to come back have to be caught, and strict action has to be taken against them by the authorities,” the minister said.
