Marina Mahathir says Bersih clampdown sign of fear

By Clara Chooi

July 04, 2011

 

PETALING JAYA, July 4 — Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir today condemned the nationwide clampdown on Bersih 2.0 ahead of this Saturday’s rally, saying it was a clear indication that the authorities were running scared.

“Obviously, only those who are afraid will arrest people wearing T-shirts,” she said at a joint press conference attended by Bersih 2.0’s NGO representatives.

“I’d like to ask people, if they saw T-shirts with the words Bersih on them, would it incite them to go out and riot?

“We have seen worse words on various T-shirts around the country but none of it has made us go out and smoke ganja.”

Marina was speaking in her capacity as a representative of Sisters in Islam and the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality.
'
She is also the eldest daughter of the country’s fourth and longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been often criticised for his hardline stance in wielding the Internal Security Act to silence opposition dissent.
'
When pointed out that it was her father who had used the ISA in a massive clampdown on the opposition during the infamous Ops Lalang in 1987, Marina moved to defend Dr Mahathir.
'
“I am here representing SIS and JAG. Did we arrest people for T-shirts at that time? No,” she said.