Zahid: More Bersih, Red Shirts will be arrested

(The Star) – Police are expected to arrest more Bersih 5 and Red Shirts leaders and those associated with the two groups, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said he would not reveal the full list of names of suspects at the moment as the law enforcement aspect was in the hands of the Inspector-General of Police.

“If we find that any of them has broken the law, not only will they be arrested but they will be charged in court,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters here on Saturday.

The Bersih 5.0 rally kicked off at various parts of Malaysia as planned on Saturday despite the arrest of Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat manager Mandeep Singh on Friday.

Red Shirts leader Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos was detained at about 1.30am Saturday.

Ahmad Zahid stressed that the arrests of the leaders should not be seen as an “abuse of power” by the police as claimed by some netizens.

“Why is this an abuse of power? We did not only arrest the leaders of one rally.

“Many of the Red Shirts have also been hauled up and there will be more of them arrested as these rallies proceed today,” he said.