UPDATED
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — The police have arrested for sedition Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, or Bersih, hours after the group called for Malaysians to put on a show of civil disobedience to protest the Barisan Nasional (BN) power grab in Perak.
Wong’s arrest comes amid security concerns over the Perak state assembly sitting two days from now in which Barisan Nasional (BN) hopes will legitimise its controversial takeover of the state government in February.
The authorities are also anticipating a mass gathering in Ipoh of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters on the day, and have issued clear warnings against groups organising any illegal assemblies.
But PR parties have already signaled their intention to challenge till the end BN’s assertion that its takeover of the state government is legitimate.
A court case in which Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful MB, is suing the BN MB Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is continuing this week.
And PR parties are planning to converge for prayers the day after tomorrow, as announced by PAS’s Mohamad Sabu yesterday.
But with Wong’s arrest tonight, the police appear to be signaling their intention to come down hard on any moves to mobilise protests.
The authorities picked up Wong at his home tonight under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
It is believed that Wong was arrested in connection with Bersih’s press conference this morning.
This morning, Bersih representatives announced their plans to mobilise all Malaysians to wear black two days from now in a symbolic protest against the power grab.
Bersih also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.
Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”
He also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.
The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Besides issuing a warning to political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat, the police also announced today tight security measures in Ipoh two days from now.
Several sections of all major roads leading to the state secretariat will be closed to traffic on May 7.
Ipoh OCPD Azisman Alias added that roadblocks would also be set up at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover from 9pm tomorrow.
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
more devilish action expected from him before pru13