Back down, IGP advises rally organisers
Despite the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar’s advice, Perkasa says it will only call off its July 9 rally if Bersih cancels its march.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar met with Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali today to dissuade the latter from holding a counter-rally on July 9.
Ismail was expected to meet with Bersih 2.0 chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan tomorrow at 11.30am while Umno Youth deputy chief Razali Ibrahim was supposed to turn up today.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Syed Hassan said the police had sent a letter requesting Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s presence at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters.
Ibrahim, however, is currently in Kelantan.
“The IGP was just giving advice and a reminder. It is sort of a briefing to coax us from holding the rally,” Syed Hassan said, adding that it was a short discussion with Ismail and several other officers, including Kuala Lumpur police chief Amar Singh.
“He was explaining to me how having such a rally will inconvenience and scare the public,” he said, commending Ismail for taking this approach.
“He repeated that the police will have to take action if the organisers insisted on going against the law and holding the July 9 rally without permits,” he added.
However, Syed Hassan said that Perkasa would only back down if Bersih 2.0 cancelled its rally.
“If anyone should be arrested, it should be the Bersih people first. They claim to have the people’s voice, but we are also representing the people’s voice. See who has more people then.
“Their motives are unclean, they are not Bersih. They just want to shame the country and pressure the government. Their leaflets are not all about the election, they’re talking about price hikes and all,” he said.
Ridiculous fear
Ambiga, when contacted, said she would meet with Ismail tomorrow.
“I still have faith that good sense will prevail. I believe that all channels of communication must always be kept open,” she added.
Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu, whom the police said had failed to show up despite being summoned today, claimed that he did not receive any calls.
