By Clara Chooi The Malaysian Insider Jul 05, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties today declared themselves “open” to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s offer to allow Bersih 2.0 to hold its July 9 rally in a stadium.
In a statement signed by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and DAP national organising secretary Teresa Kok, the pact said the agreement had been reached following several discussions among party leaders.
“We would like to record our stand that all three parties are open to the prime minister’s office as long as it respects the people’s right to assemble peacefully as enshrined under the Federal Constitution,” they said.
They added that Bersih 2.0’s demands for electoral reform should stay as the main objective of the rally, pointing out that such reforms were needed urgently before the 13th general election.
“There needs to be commitment from the PM on that, aside from his offer to Bersih that its rally can be held in a stadium,” they said.
The trio also said that their readiness to accept Najib’s stadium offer should be well received by the authorities.
“They should stop their harsh actions now. All three parties in PR are ready to cooperate with the police to ensure that the demonstration goes on smoothly.
“As such, PR demands that all those detained over Bersih 2.0 be freed immediately and charges against them dropped,” they said.
Their statement comes as Bersih 2.0 is in the process of determining whether to proceed with the rally after the King advised all parties on Sunday to resolve their issues through consultation instead of holding a demonstration.
It is believed that the King has also granted audience to Bersih 2.0 today as coalition’s chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan and two others were seen entering Istana Negara this afternoon.
During a press conference yesterday, Ambiga said the coalition was willing to call off its rally if the King advised them to do so.