How does this actually work? Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2001 (AMLA) relates to funding (local or foreign) generated from unlawful & criminal means eg drug, prostitution, terrorist, kidnapping, robbery/extortion corruption or if in process of transfer/movement contravenes the country’s foreign exchange controls (ECM) or other financial regulations. Where is there suggestion that foreign funding (money or asset) of Bersih, if true, are from these unlawful sources?

Even if Bersih got funding from foreign Christian organisations NDI or OSI, so what, in what way are these monies from these foreign organisations tainted by criminal activities? One may ban Bersih and make it unlawful but that does not equate to saying that its sources of funding unlawful or money laundering to kick in!

For an NGO like Bersih there are (as ar as I am aware) any restriction or special rule regarding foreign funding (though it does not look good), other than those set out in the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (funds generated from unlawful activities) and the MACC Act (corrupt monies). Even if a political party and not NGO involved, where in our Election Offences Act 1954 does it say that foreign funding of the political party is illegal even though a candidate spending over the limit or bribing electors for vote is? As I said in preceding posting (under moderation), banning & making Bersih unlawful does not by itself mean its sources of funding (from Christian organisations, NDI or OSI) unlawful for money laundering to kick in & Bank Negara to act! If one were not careful and investigate on Bersih’s supporters accounts in violation of banking secrecy supporters will take deposits out and cause a small run.

Ambiga already said that there’s no more rallies for the time being. She said to WSJ that Bersih’s intent was electoral reforms not overthrow of the BN’s regime or asking Najib to step down. Any present attempt to link Bersih’s funding to laundering and freeze its assets must be viewed as one to punish and destroy Bersih for the damage it has inflicted on BN and the boost it has provided to the Opposition’s cause on 9th July. It cannot be to avert the damage on 9th July because that has already happened! In that sense investigating Bersih now is like closing the barn’s door after the horses have bolted! If the intent is to show Bersih being tainted with sourcing illegal funding, one wonders what’s the point when Bersih has already been gazetted an outlaw organisation by Home Ministry – unless by such further action being needed, it tantamount to an indirect admission on govt’s part that the initial ban and outlawing of Bersih is not convincing enough as of todate for both domestic and international audience – which is natural since it cannot be the case our King gave audience to an illegal organisation – hence the present requirement to investigate and obtain further “objective evidence” of illegal funding. The hope is that such revelations of foreign or illegal funding may prove more convincing than the present reason for the ban – that in the subjective determination of the Home Ministry, Bersih is acting or intending to act in a manner prejudicial to national security, public order, law and order within meaning stated in our various laws.