DAP is shocked to hear that Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah will be charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act next Tuesday.
Bersih 4 was the most successful rally in Malaysia history. It was the longest street demonstration and attracted 500,000 people to take part.
Despite the historical turnout, the rally was remarkably peaceful and harmonious. For a rally that last for 34 hour, the police only needed to mobilise 191 officers and 2,419 policemen and the expenditure was RM2,737,400. In contrast, a total of 263 officers and 3,648 men were sent to the ground for the Red Shirt Rally on September 16. It is obvious that if any legal action needs to be taken, it should be taken against the organizer of the Red Shirt Rally and not the committee of Bersih 4!
As a matter of fact, 26 police reports were lodged against Red Shirt Rally and 15 investigation papers have been opened for offences under Penal Code, Peaceful Assembly Act, Sedition Act, and Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
In order to show that there is no selective prosecution, Deputy Prime Minister cum Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi needs to tell us what is the outcome of police investigation and if anyone will be charged over Red Shirt Rally in the near future.