KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim hit out at the Bersih 2.0 rally organisers, calling the rally an act of desperation amid an attempt to revive communism and seize power.
The information, communications, and culture minister told reporters in Parliament today that the rally was a desperate attempt to create chaos.
“Use the parliamentary system, use dialogues with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). There is no need to come to KL to have this demonstration. This is a social coup,” Rais (picture) said.
The Jelebu MP said there are laws such as the Police Act 1976 and the Emergency [Registration Areas] Regulation 1948 to deal with such illegal activities.
“It seems like the organisers for the July 9 rally are perhaps desperate, and they think this is their time to shake up the peace, create commotion and seize power. People who are sane, have families, educated, who have businesses and have other interests, should rise against this evil and unlawful rally,” he said.
The police said yesterday they were probing attempts by Bersih activists to revive communism, and are investigating 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jayakumar, for “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.”
Deputy Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said remand orders would be applied to detain the 30 activists under section 122 of the Penal Code.
Under section 122 of the Penal Code, “whoever collects or attempts to collect men, arms or ammunition, or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Rulers or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or abets the waging or the preparation of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
“I want to emphasise the understanding and practice of communism in Malaysia is not accepted and it goes against the country’s law. We have to take these actions for the majority’s survival,” Rais said.
It is understood that the 30 activists were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza near Kepala Batas in Penang while on their way to attend a gathering in support of the Bersih rally planned for July 9.
