Bersih mulls suing MCMC, Zahid over moves to block rally

Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 might go on the offensive by filing suits against the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and home minister for acting beyond their authority to suppress the Bersih 4 rally. Its steering committee, in a statement today, said they were in consultation with lawyers on potential legal action against both parties. It said several attempts had been made to ensure the rally would not happen, including MCMC's move to block Bersih 2.0’s website since August 27. The statement added that Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had, on the same day, issued an order under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 prohibiting "any yellow coloured clothing and which contains the words 'Bersih 4' and ‘any other printed material and pamphlet which leads to Bersih 4 rally’. "Both the MCMC and home minister’s actions are made in bad faith. "They have abused their powers and they have outlawed the legitimate exercise of the freedom of expression by millions of Malaysians guaranteed under the Federal Constitution," it said. Police have called up seven members of the steering committee and secretariat over last weekend’s 34-hour rally, which Putrajaya had earlier deemed as illegal. Bersih 2.0 secretariat member Mandeep Singh and six others had been told to go to the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman tomorrow over the matter. Mandeep said five lawyers would accompany them. – September 1, 2015.