NEWS FLASH: Protestors in pro-Bersih clothes will be arrested, warns Deputy IGP
(The Malaysian Insider) – Despite being allowed to hold a stadium rally this Saturday, protestors found with pro-Bersih 2.0 materials will still be arrested, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said today.
This, he said, was because the coalition was still deemed an unlawful organisation and any item, whether “songkoks or T-shirts” are still disallowed.
“On clothing or items with Bersih motifs on them, as far as we are concerned, Bersih 2.0 has been gazetted as illegal so anything to do with Bersih 2.0 will be wrong, will be disallowed and we will take action,” he told a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this afternoon.
As such, Khalid warned protestors against the use of any pro-Bersih paraphernalia at the planned gathering this Saturday or in the days leading up to it.
He agreed that even if the coalition were granted a permit for the rally, anyone found with materials in support of the outlawed group would be hauled in.
“Yes. It is an offence. Bersih is an illegal society so we advise them not to use materials supporting it. Anything showing support of Bersih is illegal,” he said.
Police have continued with its pre-rally clampdown on Bersih 2.0 supporters despite the apparent truce between the government and the coalition.
Bersih 2.0 is made up of over 62 non-governmental organisations and is holding a rally this Saturday to push for electoral reform.
