Arrested following distribution of press release

I was arrested on 2 July together with 13 other PKR members as we were just about to hold a press conference following the distribution of this press release.

Press statement by Gooi Hsiao Leung dated 2 July 2011


Kedah PKR’s call on police to reconsider its decision which runs contrary to the freedom to assemble given in the Constitution.

Kedah PKR deplores and condemns the ongoing highhanded actions of the Police to arrest activists nationwide leading up to the 9th July Bersih march demanding for free and fair elections.

There is still time for the Police to reconsider its decision to allow the 9th July Bersih march to proceed. We urge the police to respect and uphold the letter and spirit of the people’s constitutional right to assemble freely and peacefully.

The IGP’s final warning to crackdown on next weekend’s Bersih march based on allegations that there “are foreign elements out to create chaos” and that the police has since received 1830 police reports against the Bersih rally are not valid grounds to disallow the Bersih march.

The appropriate police response to the interference by “foreign elements”, if there is any truth in it, would be to arrest those behind it and not to deprive the freedom of the people to assemble peacefully given in the Constitution.

Furthermore, it is ludicrous for the Police to rely on the 1830 anti-rally police reports to stop the Bersih march especially those made by Perkasa, UMNO youth and BN linked NGOs.

We urge the Police to uphold their independence in carrying out their duties in maintaining order and keeping the peace. It must act fairly and impartially and not as BN’s political tool to suppress legitimate rights of the people to assemble freely and peacefully. It must stop raking up absurd excuses to protect BN’s hold to power.

Kedah PKR therefore urge the Police:

1) To immediately release all those currently still held under detention in connection with the Bersih rally;

2) To reconsider its decision by allowing the people peacefully march on 9th July in support of Bersih’s call for electoral reforms;

3) To accede to the Bersih Chairman’s call to the police to name the route for the Bersih march;

4) To provide security and safety for the participants of the Bersih rally from being harassed and disrupted by anti-Bersih supporters.