DAP asks police to cooperate over Bersih rally

(The Malaysian Insider) – KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — The DAP has asked the police to cooperate with Bersih to ensure this Saturday’s rally for free and fair elections goes without a hitch, saying this morning’s road blocks across the capital city is “a direct affront” to the King and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Police mounted a number of road blocks across the Klang Valley during rush hour this morning ahead of the July 9 rally, which has now been moved to a stadium pending approvals from the authorities. Motorists fumed as police checked for anyone wearing yellow with the words Bersih, which has been outlawed as an organisation since July 1.

“Given that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has proposed and agreed to the Bersih rally being held in the stadium, with the consent of the King, the actions of the police, including blockading the city since the early hours of this morning is a direct affront to both the Prime Minister and the King,” DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said in a statement.

He added that “police to instead cooperate with Bersih to ensure that the gathering on 9 July will proceed smoothly with hindrance and minimal inconvenience to the general public, and uphold our constitution which grants Malaysians the freedom of assembly and expression”.