Bersih says it will challenge any clean-up bill from DBKL

Bersih 2.0 said today it will challenge any clean-up bill from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) following the Bersih 4 rally last weekend, after a minister claimed that it would have to pay for the clean up which cost the city authority about RM65,000. Chairman of the electoral reform group Maria Chin Abdullah said that Bersih has yet to receive any bill for clean-up costs but said that such an action towards organisers of the rally was ridiculous. "We have to wait until they give us the bill and then we will fight them in court. ?We will challenge it," she told reporters after being questioned by police over the rally. Maria also demanded to know if such bills were also sent to organisers of other rallies or events or if this was only meant for Bersih. "I would like to know in other events, do they do the same thing to other organisers. It is also DBKL's responsibility to clean up the streets anyway. "How are you going to charge us for somebody sitting on the pavement? How are you going to prove it?? These are ridiculous charges," she added. Yesterday, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan was reported as saying that the cost of cleaning up after Bersih 4 weekend rally in Kuala Lumpur amounted to RM65,000, and the bill will be sent to the organiser. Rahman said the amount did not include the cost of damage to public property. "That (the cost of damage) will be left for Kuala Lumpur City Hall to collect from the organisers," he was quoted as saying by Bernama. He said some of the rally participants had urinated in the open, such as into flower pots, behind buildings, under staircases and in drains. "We will bill the organisers for all these. It will be done this week," he said. The two-day Bersih 4 rally that the police declared illegal, was organised by the electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 which said it is fighting for clean and fair elections, and a clean government, among other things. – September 2, 2015.