Penang CM to take part in Bersih 3.0

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is expected to attend a Bersih 3.0 sit-in at the Esplanade on Saturday, the same day a similar rally is to be held in Kuala Lumpur to demand for clean and fair elections.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, is also expected to address the gathering planned to be held from 2pm to 5pm, Penang-based social reform movement Aliran said today.

The state government has given Bersih permission to organise the rally at the venue, where the Speakers Square is also located, Aliran president Francis Loh (left) said.

Aliran is part of Bersih, which comprises 84 NGOs nationwide, and is also represented on the Bersih 2.0 steering committee, Loh said.

"While we encourage Malaysians to attend the event in KL, those who are not able to make it to the federal capital are encouraged by Bersih to team up with local groups to organise their own events simultaneously," he told a press conference.

"We understand that groups in 41 towns and cities and 14 countries (as of April 17) will be holding their own events.

"We intend this event to be very peaceful and hope for a large turnout," Loh said.

Police say ‘no' to Dataran sit-in

The Home Ministry has decided to allow Saturday's rally and similar peaceful gatherings as long as these do not jeopardise national security.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the ministry's initial monitoring indicated that the assembly did not require "excessive presence of the police", such as Federal Reserve Unit, as the rally was not a security threat.

However, Dang Wangi district police chief Mohamad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman (left) today rejected Bersih's application for its sit-in for "security" reasons.

This follows Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) decision not to allow the gathering to be held at Dataran Merdeka on grounds that the venue "is not for politics or dissent".

Bersih has been urged to apply for the use of alternative venues such as the Bukit Jalil Stadium or Merdeka Stadium.

The event in Penang will see short speeches being made, a sing-a-long and other interactive activities, Loh said.

A local activist will read a sajak (poem) titled Unggun Bersih (Cleansing Fire), which was specially penned for Bersih 2.0 by its co-chairperson and national laureate A Samad Said.

Penang police to be kept informed

Loh said the police will be kept updated about the event to ensure the security of participants.

"We are informing the police about the event and seeking their cooperation to provide security," he said.

"We reiterate that we intend this to be a peaceful event and invite Penangites of all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds to attend," he added.

Those who are interested in taking part in the event are requested to dress in yellow and bring an umbrella along.

The Penang organisers are cautious as a rally in support of Himpunan Hijau's protest against radioactive hazards from the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant in in Gebeng, Kuantan, in February resulted in a fracas that left two journalists injured.

A group of pro-Lynas supporters, including members of Umno and Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, had then tried to disrupt the event.Penang CM to take part in Bersih 3.0