Press Statement
15 June 2011
It is with deep concern that the Minister of Home Affairs has irresponsibly failed to exercise his duty to protect the constitutional and fundamental rights of the rakyat to assemble peacefully for the coming Bersih 2.0 rally.
I would like to categorically state that Bersih 2.0 initiative is supposed to be seen as a volunteer efforts of the rakyat to create greater democratic space for Malaysia when government fail to discharge their duties.
It is also presumptious and malicious of the Deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to assume that the gathering will disrupt public order and cause traffic jams. It is the duty of the police to protect the rights of the people to have peaceful assembly and failure to carry out its duties can tantamout to negligence of public authorities in exercising their trusted statutory duties.
I urge the police as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs to adopt the recommendation made by SUHAKAM through its report for Freedom of Assembly, which says that it is rights of the rakyat to have peaceful assemblies. There are many instances in the report showing that the police had failed to exercise their duties in protecting the rights of the rakyat.
I call for the rakyat to see that Bersih 2.0 as a rakyat good faith initiative to create a better and democratic Malaysia.
Yusmadi Yusoff
Member of Parliament, Balik Pulau
Chairman of KeADILan International Bureau
** sending from Male, Maldives while attending a workshop on Government and Opposition: Roles, Rights and Responsibilities organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat from 13-15 June 201
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