'Use ISA against rally organisers'

The council of ex-elected reps (Mubarak) wants the authorities to use the security law against the brains behind the Bersih rally.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Council of Ex-Elected Representatives (Mubarak) wants the police to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against the organisers of the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

Its president Aziz Abdul Rahman said it was time for firmer action to be taken by the authorities against any form of activities that could jeopardise public interest and the country’s security.

“Although we realise that in present circumstances, the authorities may be hesitant to use the ISA to avoid portraying a negatives image of the country at the international level, we opine that public order and the security of the country cannot be substituted with the need to portray a good image,” he said in a statement here today.

According to Bernama, Aziz said that no one could deny that the proposed rally, which would involve a huge crowd, could turn ugly and lead to a riot.

Hence, measures should be taken by the police to stop the rally, he added.

Earlier today, Bersih 2.0 chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan said she would be writing to the Kuala Lumpur police chief on how they can work together in making the July 9 rally a peaceful one.

“We understand their job and at the same time we would like to explain to them why we are holding the rally,” Ambiga told FMT.

She said the organisers of the rally strongly believe that it could be conducted in a peaceful and responsible manner.