Bersih slams Khalid’s lawyers for ‘violation of human rights’

(The Star) – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has slammed the lawyers representing Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, claiming they are violating human rights principles by acting for him.

In a statement on Saturday, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah criticised Khalid and his lawyers, Edmund Bon and New Sin Yew, for attempting to resolve the Selangor crisis by filing a complaint against PKR for wrongful dismissal with the Registrar of Society (ROS).

“It is a low down tactic and being human rights lawyers, Edmund and Sin Yew should know that the ROS and its processes are fundamentally against the freedoms of expression and association.

“This unacceptable action violates human rights and they should know better,” she said.

Maria added that both Bon and New should stop violating the very principles they champion.

She added that the view of the lawyers did not reflect that of Bersih even though New was a member of the coalition’s steering committee.

Terming the situation in Selangor as a “worsening constitutional crisis”, Maria said that the mentri besar issue had let down residents who voted in the last general elections, adding that Khalid should gracefully bow out as his party had sacked him.

“The parliamentary system is fundamentally based on political parties. It allows the ruling parties or coalition to change the head of government at any point of time they wish to,” she said.

Maria added that Khalid had denounced democracy and betrayed those who voted for his party by clinging on to power.

“In the last election, the electorate of Selangor voted for a Pakatan Rakyat government.

“As Selangor is not a presidential democracy, Khalid has no direct and personal mandate,” she said.

Maria also called for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to call for a meeting of all Pakatan assemblymen to endorse a new leader and end the crisis.

“PR now has the majority and it has presented its new leader which shows that the coalition still holds the legislative majority,” she said.