‘Balloon girl’ charged for handing out Bersih balloons

KUALA LUMPUR — Police have charged a woman who was detained earlier today (Aug 31) for distributing Bersih 4 balloons at an upscale shopping mall here for allegedly attempting to stir some trouble, according to the suspect’s lawyer.

It is understood that Ms Bilqis Hijjas, the daughter of prominent architect Hijjas Kasturi, has been charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code for “provoking a breach of peace” by distributing the balloons at the Pavilion shopping mall in Bukit Bintang during the DiverseCity International Art Festival which Prime Minister Najib Razak had attended.

“Bilqis has been released on police bail... balloon girl ordered pizza. All is well,” her lawyer Michelle Yesudas said on microblogging site Twitter, adding that her client was released on police bail at about 9.40pm.

It is understood that Bilqis had dropped the balloons from the top floor of the mall which later fell behind the stage where Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah were seated.

The seven balloons were decorated with the words “Free media”, “Democracy” and “Justice”, among others.

Mr Najib and Ms Rosmah were said to have ignored the balloons.

Earlier today Ms Bilqis’ friend Syar S Alias said the former had also partook in the Bersih 4 rally that took place over the weekend, distributing the same balloons to other participants.

Bersih claimed up to half a million people had joined the two-day event although media estimates put the turnout at around 100,000 people.

The protest was held to deman Putrajaya to institute key reforms – fair elections, free media, better economy and the right to assemble.

It was also calling for Mr Najib to resign after he was implicated in several financial scandals. MALAY MAIL ONLINE