Bersih condemns assault by Red Shirts

PETALING JAYA: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 today strongly condemned the assault by the Red Shirts on two of its supporters on Saturday.
In a statement issued by its chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, she said that Red Shirts organiser Datuk Jamal Yunos had crossed the line following the incident.
"In particular, a Bersih supporter was physically beaten up by these group of thugs. The gangsters egged him, pulled him off his bike, kicked & punched him with such force that it injured him badly. They could have killed him," she said.
She also alleged that Red Shirts members had almost rammed into the cars of DAP MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham in Teluk Intan, as well as lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Bersih manager Mandeep Singh at the outskirts of Sabak Bernam.
Maria said that Bersih will be offering legal support to its supporters who face such intimidation and physical violence.
"Bersih maintains its stand that we uphold non-violence and respect peaceful assembly. We did not organise convoys to collect trophies, create violence or riots but to have a national conversation on our issues," she said.
Bersih 2.0's response came after two of their supporters were pelted with eggs by Red Shirt supporters in Sabak Bernam on Saturday.
In a leaked video, the supporters clad in Bersih T-shirts were attacked when they crossed the street into the Red Shirts' area.
While one of the motorists retreated, another whose bike had crashed stood his ground and was pelted with more eggs.
Prior to police intervention, a Red Shirts supporter then gave him a flying kick to the back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Following the incident, Sabak Bernam police have arrested three Red Shirt supporters.
Selangor police chief Datuk Abu Samah Mat told theSun that the three suspects were detained after the Bersih supporter lodged a police report.
"Although we have arrested three men, we are still in the midst of viewing the video to ascertain those behind the assault," he said.
Abu Samah warned that the police will take a "zero tolerance" stance against violent behaviour and provocateurs.
"Under the peaceful assembly act, it is not against the law to gather, but supporters have to abide by the law," he said, adding that they will not take sides when it comes to violent behaviour.
The three suspects, he said, were detained under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting where the penalty upon conviction is two years' jail with a fine or both.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Red Shirts) chairman Datuk Jamal Yunos criticised police over their unfair treatment towards his red shirt members.
"The Bersih 5 group is not only being well taken care of, but is being escorted by the police for all its convoys, even beating the likes of our prime minister's convoy.
"On the other hand, the treatment given to us Red Shirts, I would liken it to that of stray dogs (anjing kurap)," he said in a statement today.
Jamal said his Red Shirts movement was not only being blocked by police at all its locations, but they were also asked to stop their convoys immediately, despite Bersih being given the go ahead nod.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin condemned the action by some Red Shirt supporters for the alleged assault.
Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, described the action as irresponsible and should not have happened in a democratic country, Bernama quoted him as saying.
"We can't accept this. Whoever is involved, we need to condemn violent actions and I hope the police will take appropriate action," he said after attending the final match of the Asics Badminton Championship, at the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, here, on Oct 9, 2016.