KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 4: Days after deputy inspector general of police Khalid Abu Bakar promised to intensify crackdown on Bersih supporters and said he would not negotiate with organisers of the July 9 rally, the Agong yesterday urged all parties to engage with each other.
"When any problem arises, we as a civilised society must resolve it through consultations and not follow our emotions, as the Malay saying goes, 'Yang Dikejar Tak Dapat Yang Dikendong Berciciran' (Not getting what we chase after and spilling what we carry)," Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (pic) said in a carefully worded statement issued by the Palace last night.
The statement comes as the crackdown on anyone seen sympathising with the July 9 rally for electoral reforms intensified, with close to 200 people including members of parliament being arrested nationwide.
The crackdown also saw Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and five members of his Socialist Party being accused of "waging war against the King" for distributing leaflets urging support for Bersih. They are currently held under the draconian Emergency Ordinance 1966.
Last week, Khalid declared that the door to negotiation was over.
“We will not discuss anymore. Be ready to face the laws of this country,” he was quoted.
Tuanku Mizan, saying he had been following closely the actions taken by the government in handling the run-up to the gathering which seeks to pass a memorandum on electoral reforms to the Palace, however said the government must act justly.
'Be just and wise'
While Bersih organisers had assured that the rally would be peaceful, UMNO's offshoot Perkasa raised the spectre of a racial riot and threatened violence by holding its own gathering on the same day.
In his statement, the Agong, who expressed fear that street demonstrations could bring more bad than good "although the original intention is good" also urged those committed to bolster democracy to also ensure "that this demand on democracy does not bring destruction to the country."
"I also urge the government to carry out everything that is entrusted to it by the people in a just and wise manner, and it is important that I as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong do not want to see this country with a plural society in a situation where there is animosity among them or a section of the people being enemies with the government, on whatever grounds.
"Remember that there is no land where the rain does not fall, there is no ocean that is not turbulent. That is how important moderation and compromise is, which has been long been in practice by our nation's administration," he added.
This is the first reaction from the palace on the second Bersih rally, which calls for eight demands ensuring a more transparent electoral system. Earlier, PAS cautioned against any attempt by UMNO to use the Agong to stop the rally, while constitutional expert Dr Aziz Bari said the Agong could intervene to take action against EC officials who have issued politically-biased statements against the rally.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in a Twitter response from London cautioned that the government controlled media would spin the royal statement in its favour. Thanking the Agong for his advice, Anwar said he would propose that Bersih leaders have an audience with Tuanku Mizan.
Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, in her reaction to the latest development, said the coalition would issue a statement today.
Related:
Amid crackdown, PAS warns against using Agong
Muslim body urges leaders, royalty to condemn death threats
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/headline/3060-agong-urges-restraint-consultation.html
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