By Clara Chooi
July 02, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders expressed outrage tonight at the Home Ministry’s decision to outlaw Bersih 2.0 ahead of its rally next week, but declared that the clampdown has not spooked them into withdrawing their support.

Electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0 has invited all political parties to join its march for free and fair elections but the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) have snubbed them, saying PR’s victories in Election 2008 is proof there is no fault with the current system.

“We are more determined now to demand for more democratic space in society. I do not see any reason whatsoever for the minister or Umno to crack down on the people just because they are demanding free and fair elections,” PKR deputy president Azmin Ali told The Malaysian Insider.

He pointed out that Bersih 2.0 was a loose coalition of “legal and registered” civil society groups exercising their rights to call for electoral reform and, as such, there was no reason for the movement to call an end to its July 9 rally.

The Gombak MP also told Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who issued the order to outlaw Bersih 2.0 effective July 1, to stop turning the administration into a Middle Eastern-style dictatorship.

“We have made clear our position that this rally must be a peaceful one. But Perkasa and Umno Youth, their reasons are just to provoke and create chaos,” he said, agreeing that the government was practising double standards by failing to outlaw the latter two groups.

Malay rights group Perkasa and Umno Youth, led by its chief Khairy Jamaluddin, plan to take to the streets on July 9 in two separate protest marches.

The home ministry issued a four-paragraph statement today outlining the reasons for its banning of Bersih 2.0, including that the coalition had sparked an atmosphere of unrest in the country, that it was spreading propaganda to incite the people to topple the government and that its activities was tarnishing the country’s image.

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub today denied all three allegations and challenged Putrajaya to prove its claims.

“Where does it say that Bersih is unlawful? This so-called propaganda are merely lies, we have even raised this (Bersih’s requests) in Parliament before. This is merely an act of desperation by Umno-BN,” he said.

In an SMS tonight, PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said “definitely no” when asked if the ban would deter party members from participating in the rally, adding that Hishammuddin should instead order the police to direct traffic and ensure public safety on July 9.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang described the ministry’s decision tonight as politically motivated and questioned why an identical clampdown was not imposed to thwart Perkasa and Umno Youth’s rally plans.

“Why no similar declaration on Umno Youth and Perkasa who were even more irresponsible in provoking a situation of tension and hatred? I do not think any right-minded person can accept this declaration,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He added that by banning Bersih 2.0, the government was declaring to Malaysians that fighting for free and fair elections is an unlawful act.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said it was no surprise that Hishammuddin had decided to ban Bersih 2.0 since the latter had already declared the coalition’s signature yellow T-shirts as illegal earlier this week.

“The T-shirt ban was using Section 7 of the ISA (Internal Security Act) and needs gazetting before it can be enforced. Clearly, the ministry has no regard for the laws in this country.

“[Hishammuddin] and (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) might as well declare Malaysia a police state since they are allowing mindless zealots — Perkasa and various other Umno-sponsored silat groups — to run amok all over the country while blatantly clamping down against any related Bersih individuals using all state apparatus and agencies at their behest,” she said in an SMS to The Malaysian Insider.