Raid or no, the rally is still on, says lawyer

This raid is only going to make it worse for Prime Minister Najib Razak as the world is watching us, says lawyer and PKR MP Sivarasa Rasiah

(FMT) – The raid at the Bersih 2.0 office is only going to make Prime Minister Najib Razak look worse internationally, says PKR MP Sivarasa Rasiah.

The lawyer, who was present at the Bersih office during the raid this afternoon, told reporters that the operation would only make the nation look much worse to international observers.

Solidarity rallies for Bersih will also be held in 57 other cities worldwide by Malaysians living abroad, coordinated by Geneva-based international network and Bersih 2.0 advocacy arm, Global Bersih.

“It’s an attempt to shut down the rally tomorrow. That is very clear. But it won’t work. The rally is going to happen,” Sivarasa said.

“Even if they arrest Maria (Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah) and keep her overnight, the rally is going to happen. Whoever’s going to come is going to come.

“Whoever the smart – or not so smart – policeman in Bukit Aman giving the instructions, he’s only going to realise that he’s making this worse for Najib. He’s not helping.”

This afternoon’s raid comes less than 24 hours before the electoral reform group takes to the streets of Kuala Lumpur for the Bersih 5 rally.

A tweet earlier by Bersih secretariat member Mandeep Singh said: “Bukit Aman in our office. Want to rampas all our barang. Its a raid under 124C.”

Section 124c of the Penal Code says that “whoever attempts to commit an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy or does any act preparatory thereto shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fifteen years”.