Deputy minister expects trouble at Malaysia’s Bersih 4 rally

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed yesterday warned of “anarchists” during this weekend’s much anticipated anti-government Bersih 4 rally, saying that some people would attempt to stir up trouble and provoke the authorities into action so as to tarnish the police and government.

In a statement, the minister said that there might be groups who would try to “take advantage” and create chaos during the rally, with the intention of making the police use high-handed tactics against the protesters.

“Such provocations are so that the police are blamed for using violence against protesters, and immediately will increase hatred for the government,” he said.

Mr Nur Jazlan added that the police were expected to deploy about 4,000 personnel to ensure public safety during the rally, but would “not tolerate” any threats to the people’s lives. He also expected similarities between Bersih 4 and Bersih 3, which was held in 2012, due to the involvement of opposition politicians, which led to the rally ending with incidents of violence.

“What the organisers claim as a right to assembly is a mere lie because the masterminds are opposition politicians,” the minister said.

He said that if the people had really lost trust in the government, they should instead wait for the next election in two years’ time.

Mr Nur Jazlan also cautioned that the rally would cost the government “millions of ringgit” because a huge amount of personnel had to be deployed to watch the protesters.

Bersih 4, organised by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, begins this Saturday afternoon and continues until midnight the following day.

The rally demands institutional reforms, a corruption-free government, the right to protest, and measures to save the economy.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has described the rally as a public vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is under pressure following alleged financial scandals as well as economic woes amid a drop in world oil prices and the ringgit’s worst fall in 17 years.

Organisers say the response to the Bersih 4 rally has been overwhelming, with public donations hitting more than RM1.5 million (S$502,000) and at least 35,000 rally T-shirts sold.

Ahead of the event, the armed forces are preparing to step in should the peaceful gathering turn chaotic, fearing a repeat of a deadly bomb blast carried out by terrorists in downtown Bangkok on Aug 17.

Yesterday, armed forces Chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said: “We worry if rallies like these turn into states of emergency due to certain reasons. What happened in the Thailand bombing — there are people who take advantage of the situation … This is what we worry about.”

But he highlighted that the army will intervene only if a state of emergency is declared by the government.

“There are many factors that could turn a rally, however peaceful, chaotic,” he told reporters at the Defence Ministry. “If the situation is categorised as a threat to public order, we will take over the role of the police in containing the situation.” AGENCIES