Ambiga: Today, the rakyat will surprise us
The Bersih chairperson plans to leave for Dataran Merdeka at 1.30pm from Pasar Seni.
(Free Malaysia Today) – As thousands poured into the capital in support of Bersih 3.0′s rally slated for 2pm, the electoral watchdog’s chairperson S Ambiga was overwhelmed.
“Look at the atmosphere and look at the people,” said the former Bar Council president. “Today the rakyat is going to surprise us.”
Ambiga plans to leave Pasar Seni around 1.30pm and head towards the iconic Dataran Merdeka, where the sit-in protest is scheduled to take place.
The police have obtained a court order barring the 55-year-old lawyer and the public from entering Dataran Merdeka.
Copies of this court order have been pasted on traffic lights leading to the square.
Ambiga became a household name after she led a mammoth street protest last July despite stern warnings from the authorities and death threats.
The high-handed police action to thwart the rally drew international condemnation and forced the Najib administration to look into Bersih’s demands to reform the electoral process.
Today’s rally was called after Bersih expressed dissatisfaction with the Parliamentary Select Committee’s report on electoral reforms.
The watchdog is also calling for the resignation of the Election Commission’s top brass, who had been accused of colluding with the ruling government.
‘Reject, Umno and EC’
Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali made an appearance at the Dataran Merdeka intersection and delivered a short speech.
He dared Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to be man enough to allow the future of Malaysia to be decided by its citizens.
“Najib, (the PM’s wife) Rosmah (Mansor), listen to the people. I warn you Najib, don’t give identification cards to foreigners.
“The future of Malaysia is in the hand of Malaysians, not Indonesians and Burmese. If you are man enough, stand by Malaysians,” he thundered.
“Reject Najib, Umno and EC,” he added before moving to meet the crowd near Jalan Raja Laut.
Suhakam commissioner James Nayagam, who was also on the streets, said the protest was peaceful in nature.
“I am here to negotiate. It’s peaceful according to the Federal Constitution,” he added when met near Dataran Merdeka.
Bar Council observer Daniel Lo echoed similar sentiments. “It’s their right to protest. In principle, Bar Council supports the right to peaceful assembly,” he added.
