Stop demonising Bersih, free E06

MIC CWC member S Vell Paari says it is the likes of Ibrahim Ali and Utusan Malaysia who should be hauled up.

PETALING JAYA: The government banned Bersih 2.0 and accused it of working hand-in-glove with the opposition to topple Barisan Nasional through illegal means.

However, the Election Commission’s second-in-command Wan Ahmad Wan Omar saw it fit to engage the chairperson of the so-called illegal entity, S Ambiga, in a public debate, which was widely reported.

“Does this mean the EC recognises Bersih 2.0 and considers its demands for free and fair elections worth looking into?” asked MIC central committee member S Vell Paari.

He said this coupled with the fact that Bersih 2.0 leaders were given an audience with the King rendered the coalition a degree of legitimacy and the government should stop demonising the coalition.

“The country is moving away from ‘guided’ democracy and into a democracy in the truest sense of the word. Bersih 2.0′s demands are in line with the latter and must be considered.

“As I said before, the entire episode has been mishandled and BN is feeling the repercussions of this. So it will be wise not to exacebrate the situation,” he added.

Release PSM six

Vell Paari also reiterated his call on the government to release the six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) since Bersih 2.0 was now becoming more acceptable.

Yesterday, MIC deputy president and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam also urged the government to review the detention.

Today, MIC president G Palanivel said he had also told Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to release the six detainees.

Concurring with the party’s top leaders, Vell Paari said the authorities should charge the six in an open court if there was evidence or let them walk free otherwise.

“We should not be seen as using a draconian law which provides for detention without trial to keep our critics behind bars based on unsubstantiated allegations,” he added.

The detention of the six, Vell Paari said, also brought into focus the necessity for outdated legislation such as the EO and Internal Security Act.

“The government must consider repealing these acts as demanded by numerous groups over many years. Such laws give the impression of being convenient tools of suppression,” he added.

The PSM activists under detention are MP for Sungai Siput Dr Michael D Jeyakumar, PSM deputy president M Sarasvathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sukumaran, Youth chief R Saratbabu and Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan.

They were arrested in Kepala Batas on June 26 while distributing leaflets calling on the public to support Bersih 2.0′s demands for free and fair elections. The authorities later accused them of waging war against the King.

‘The real threats walk free’

Calling the charge both “extraordinary and unbelievable”, Vell Paari said it was people like Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali and the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia who should be hauled up instead.

“Threatening a repeat of the 1969 racial riots, asking the Chinese to stock up food and making unsubstantiated allegations of a Christian plot are disruptive to the well-being of the nation.

“These people threaten to wage war against the King’s subjects and by extension, attempt to wage war against the ruler himself, who is the protector of all races,” he added.

Similarly, Vell Paari said, the infamous cow-head protest was another example of a serious threat to national security, but those responsible were let off with a slap on the wrist.

“When numerous quarters, including those in the government, can defend Ibrahim, Utusan and the cow-head protesters as merely expressing their views, then the same argument can be used for Bersih 2.0 and the PSM six,” he said.

Vell Paari said the government must understand that the people’s mindset had evolved and should act accordingly.

“They ask the BN component parties to adapt to changing times but how can we do so when we are forced to defend government policies and actions which have not evolved?” he asked.

Responding to a question, the son of former MIC president S Samy Vellu said that the political differences between MIC and PSM did not cloud his view of the present situation.

“We are of different political camps but it does not mean we don’t respect our rivals.
“As far as I am concerned, the honourable doctor has worked hard for the betterment of the country and Indian community, not the other way around as alleged,” he added.

In the 2008 general election, Jeyakumar had defeated Samy Vellu.