Sarawak Bersih 4 rally ends prematurely

The loss of the public address system and the presence of "so many children" last night had forced the Bersih 4 rally in Kuching, Sarawak to end prematurely. Bersih's Kuching organising chair Nicholas Mujah said the decision to declare the rally cancelled was made at midnight. He had also made a public apology for the cancellation. Mujah said the presence of children breached one of the conditions of the gathering and had placed organisers in danger of being hauled up by the police. DAP, which had a strong presence, were particularly upset with the cancellation and two of their assemblymen, Alan Ling (Piasau) and Yap Hoi Liong (Dudong), confronted Mujah over the cancellation. They said the abrupt cancellation had inconvenienced many DAP supporters who had made the trip from their hometown like Sibu, for the rally. Yap, from Sibu, claimed many of his supporters "are on their way". Yap and Ling demanded Mujah make a public apology, which he and Kuching Bersih rally spokesperson Karen Shepherd duly made to handful of people and journalists present. Relationship between the organisers and DAP reportedly were already frayed over the opposition party's flouting the condition of not displaying party logos or any other symbols. Party leaders and supporters were sporting their own designed yellow T-shirts, which had a small rocket at the back and the distinctive DAP hornbill on the front. The procession DAP made from Taman Sri Sarawak mall to the Song Kheng Hai rugby field where the rally was held was also now under police investigation. Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek said the procession was one of four police reports lodged against the rally. "It breached one of the conditions banning procession," Bek told reporters at the deserted field. Two reports were lodged against the setting up of banners without permit from Kuching South city hall and one on the contravention of the Sarawak Entertainment Act for screening a video without permit. Roslan however said no one had been called up for questioning in relation to the investigations. He however applauded rally goers for holding a "peaceful" rally. "Tip top. No problems." he said. Shepherd said despite the cancellation, the rally has achieved its objectives. "It might not be as big as in KL, which we will never be, but it showed the ability of people to come out in a peaceful way to express themselves," the Kuching rally spokesperson said. She said she was baffled, like other members of the organising committee as to the reason the shop that had rented the sound system was adamant in wanting to take back the PA system. Shepherd said she had asked friends in Pakatan Rakyat to help organise the rental of the system. "We don't know what's the reason why they wanted it removed. "We tried to negotiate with them to leave it as it is but we were told they had received instructions from their boss to remove it. "I think there is a miscommunication somewhere," she said. The system was removed as soon as the last speaker, Andrew Luak of DAP, finished his address. Some participants continue to trickle to the field this morning curious to find out what had happened the night before. They immediately left when told that the rally has been cancelled. – August 30, 2015.