L-R: Hatta, Suhaizan and Mat Sabu(Harakah Daily) - PAS leaders have warned UMNO's sister organisation Perkasa against any act of violence to thwart the planned rally on July 9 by electoral reform group Bersih.
Kuala Krai member of parliament Dr Hatta Ramli, who is also in the Bersih committee, described Perkasa's threat to disrupt the rally with its own gathering as "terrorist-like".
“We never stop Perkasa from gathering. But (we hope) it gathers to fight for (what it believes as) their right, not to stop us.
It looks like a physical war had been declared. That’s not the way, this is terrorist way,” Hatta said when met at the Parliament.
Perkasa's chief Ibrahim Ali vowed to stop the Bersih rally by countering it with a similar rally on July 9, hoping both gatherings would clash.
“(If they proceed) there will be a clash (pertembungan). If that happens, it is for the better. I cannot imagine, when they bring a big crowd and start throwing stones, burning cars...Perkasa will go down to make sure we stop (the Bersih rally)," said Ibrahim, who again invoked the term "jihad" to describe his right-wing activities.
"Jihad is to prevent bad things from happening... I have every right to stop (the rally),” he added.
Johor PAS Youth meanwhile said Ibrahim's plan to disrupt the Bersih rally was proof that Perkasa was only interested in creating trouble, and urged police to take action.
"The police with all their equipment should be able to use their wisdom to prevent any disturbance. They can ensure peace during the Bersih rally by placing policemen along the road leading to the Palace," said its leader Suhaizan Kayat, referring to Bersih leaders' plan to hand over a memorandum to the Agung on that day.
He added that if Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali (left) was interested in holding any gathering of their own, they can also be allowed to do so by using another route.PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said it was not up to Perkasa to determine whether chaos would happen during the Bersih rally, the second such major gathering in the city since its successful 2007 rally which saw tens of thousands demanding for electoral reforms before the general election.
Mat Sabu, saying Bersih chairperson had guaranteed the rally would be peaceful, said it was the police's job "to determine whether it is peaceful or not."
Mat Sabu also dismissed the threat from Ibrahim, while acknowledging Perkasa's right to gather.
“We will continue, Perkasa wants to do the gathering, it’s their right. But Perkasa, if you really want to do a gathering, choose a different date, as this date (July 9) we have proposed long time ago,” said Mat Sabu, who has been spearheading efforts to mobilise PAS members for the rally. Earlier at the PAS Muktamar, PAS had pledged 300,000 members to attend the rally.
Earlier, Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the group would not be cowed despite whatever the threats or police reports lodged.
“We will not be intimidated,” she said.
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