By Kow Gah Chie | Jun 23, 11
Malaysiakini

Bersih 2.0 today slammed the “cowardly” move of those behind the death threat SMS targetting its chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, in relation to its planned July 9 rally.

“This is unacceptable, the SMS is not only life-threatening, but also has connotations of racism,” said Maria Chin Abdullah (centre in photo), a Bersih 2.0 steering committee member.

“Let’s be brave enough to come out and talk, instead of being so cowardly as to send threatening and racist SMSes. Let’s talk,” Maria told a press conference after lodging a police report at the Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Maria also urged the sender to stop such moves.

At least six reports were lodged against the death threat SMS, the earliest of which was sent last night and continued into the morning.

They were lodged by, among others, Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat, PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Annuar Ahmad Zainudin, Ambiga and PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya.

Ambiga (right in photo) also appeared at the police station this afternon.

“The threat will not change our plan (to rally),” said Ambiga.

However, Ambiga said she and other members will take precautions to ensure their safety.

She said if the police were operating efficiently, she had no reason to fear for her safety.

She welcomed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s statement that police would investigate the SMS, saying she has confidence in the police to locate the sender.

“The police have all the means to find the senders,” she said.

Nothing racial in Bersih rally

To a question, Ambiga said that some groups are seeking to turn the Bersih rally into a racial issue.

“As far as we are concerned, we are going to do this peacefully. There is nothing racial about it.”

She said she also hoped that the force of law would be used against those who used racism and threats.

Just as “there is no point if anybody wants to give advice to me,” Ambiga said she also has no advice for Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali.

When asked on the progress of the police to call up the leaders of Umno Youth, Perkasa and Bersih who are organising rallies on the same day, Ambiga said the police has yet to contact her.

Ambiga said Bersih would give its cooperation to the police.

“Since (Hishammuddin) had said no permit will be issued, we will not apply,” she said.