Bersih leaders will face police action, warns Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR — Police are monitoring the leaders as well as all speeches made during the Bersih 4 rallies across the country, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today (Aug 30).

He added that action will be taken against the leaders over the previously-declared “illegal gathering”.

Mr Zahid said although there had been no arrests thus far, it did not mean police and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall officers have not been doing their work.

He said police could still take action after the rally under the Peaceful Assembly Act and other regulations.

“I agree with the Inspector-General of Police, ‘berani buat, berani tanggung’ (Malay proverb which translates to ‘dare to face the consequence of his or her actions’)

“Don’t accuse the police of ‘cruelty’ (kezaliman) for the action.

“This is not a warning and not just a promise, action must be taken,” he told reporters after launching the Ipoh Timor UMNO delegates meeting in Ipoh today.

Putrajaya has pegged the Bersih 4 rally as an illegal gathering.

Asked if action would also be taken against the thousands of rally-goers who disregarded police warning that the gathering was deemed illegal, the home minister said: “What is important is that I am empowering the police to take action.”

Bersih 4, organised by Bersih 2.0, is demanding for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak, the right to dissent, and the strengthening of parliamentary democracy.

The police have exercised restraint and have not disrupted the rally so far. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER