Bus operators 'warned' not to ferry Himpunan activists

 
With three days to go for Bersih 3.0, Himpunan Hijau has accused the Tourism Ministry of behind a plot to stop the movement from ferrying its Kuantan supporters to the rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Its president Wong Tack alleged that the tourism bus operators in Kuantan are under pressure from the ministry to not rent any bus to the anti-Lynas movement.

As a result of this, he said eight tourist buses which were to ferry Himpunan supporters to Kuala Lumpur, have been withdrawn, lamented Wong (right).

While conceding that he has no proof to back his claims, he said the bus operators did hint about it to him.

"I asked them (the bus operators) why but they refused to say much, only suggesting that this is related to their 'rice bowl'," he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

However, he said Himpunan Hijau will get smaller buses and private cars as an alternative to ferry its supporters to the capital city, about 250km from Kuantan.

Himpunan Hijau, a coalition of environment groups formed to protest against a rare earth plant near Kuantan, plans to organise a rally in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) on the morning of April 28 before marching to Dataran Merdeka to join Bersih 3.0.

'Yen Yen should explain'

Wong condemned the ministry for threatening and intimidating the bus operators and demanded an explanation from Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen (below).

"This goes against the democratic process. They should respect the people's will," he said.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, Himpunan alleged that some individuals who claimed they were Tourism Ministry officers were carrying out the intimidation.

It added that some bus operators who had earlier agreed to transport Kuantan residents to Kuala Lumpur, withdrew after receiving phone calls from these ‘officers'.

Attempts by Malaysiakini to contact Ng for comments have been futile.