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Police probe trampling of Najib’s photos during Bersih rally

KUALA LUMPUR — The police have started an investigation into incidents where photographs of Prime Minister Najib Razak and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang were stepped on during the Bersih 4 rally over the weekend.

Malaysian protestors unfold a banner reading 'BERSIH 4' while marching through the city streets during a BERSIH (The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections) rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug 29, 2015. Photo: AP

Malaysian protestors unfold a banner reading 'BERSIH 4' while marching through the city streets during a BERSIH (The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections) rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug 29, 2015. Photo: AP

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KUALA LUMPUR — The police have started an investigation into incidents where photographs of Prime Minister Najib Razak and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang were stepped on during the Bersih 4 rally over the weekend.

Bahasa Malaysia daily Sinar Harian reported today (Aug 31) that Kuala Lumpur police chief Tajuddin Md Isa confirmed that the probe is ongoing after a photograph with a caption “Kurang ajar upacara pijak gambar Tuan Guru” (It is rude to be stepping on Tuan Guru’s picture), referring to the PAS leader, went viral on social media yesterday.

There were no details in the Sinar Harian report on the people seen stepping on photograph.

Another local daily Utusan Malaysia, meanwhile, had posted a picture on its online portal showing a Bersih 4 participant stepping on the prime minister’s face that was printed on a banner that read “Kamu ada kuasa. Kami ada Tuhan” (You have Power. We have God).

The picture was published in a story entitled “Peserta Bersih 4 Biadap” (Bersih 4 Participants Are Rude) today. The report detailed how “rude and filthy” Bersih participants had behaved during the weekend rally.

“All sorts of rude behaviour was shown by the rally participants, who were mostly Chinese. Among (the things they did) were gambling, sleeping on the streets, scribbling on the roads and promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activities.”

“There were some who disregarded the law, lying in the middle of the road and teaching their children to do the same.”

“If that was not enough, there were participants who acted rudely by stepping on photos of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s and PAS president Hadi Awang. They also carried placards with foul words directed at the country’s leaders,” the Utusan report said.

Meanwhile, Sinar Harian reported that police have received 27 reports against the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur until 10.45pm last night and five investigation papers have been opened so far.

Mr Tajuddin said 14 of the reports were lodged on Saturday while the rest were made yesterday.

He also said a 21-year-old man was detained at Dataran Merdeka yesterday over his alleged lewd behaviour and failure to produce his identification card.

The Bersih 4 rally that went on for 34 hours is said to have attracted some 200,000 people. The crowd near and around Dataran Merdeka last night remained strong as the people listened to speeches until the rally came to its end at midnight.

Mr Tajuddin said the situation remained under control and police were on standby in case of untoward incidents at the rally, which had been declared illegal by the authorities.

Bersih 4 was organised by electoral reform group Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0). The aim of the rally was to demand reforms in the election system, governance, freedom to protest, parliamentary democracy and the economy, as well as Mr Najib’s resignation.

The rally was also held in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, although the events ended earlier during the day yesterday. It was also held in other major cities in the world, where Malaysians gathered for several hours to show their solidarity with their compatriots back home. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

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