The Selangor state assembly has passed a motion to condemn the crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 rally.

NONE Proposed by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR-Seri Setia) ( right ), the House called on to the federal government and the police to stop all arrests and obstacles to the Coalition of Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) in Selangor as well as nationwide.

The assembly also passed the motion for the state government to uphold the right of Malaysians to use the facilities of the state government, subsidies, GLCs as well as local authorities without hindrance by the police or any similar authorities based on Article 10 of the federal constitution.

In his debate, he said that he, alongside several other assemblypersons joined the peaceful assembly on Saturday together with 50,000 other Malaysians from various walks of life.

“However, we were treated worse than trash. Bersih 2.0 and Pakatan leaders and activists were shot with tear gas at close range while some were trampled on and arrested,” he said.

Recounting his time when he studied in London for three years, he said that he has participated in many demonstrations against the Iraq War.

“Then, two million people including British Christians and Muslims marched on the streets of London. Not only were permits given, police were on hand to care for the safety of the protesters.

“I repeat, the police cared for the safety of the protestors, and did not become instruments of a cruel government.

“It is strange that I as a Muslim felt safer marching in the streets, protesting against Britain and the US for invading a Muslim country, as compared to marching for clean and fair elections in my own country led by the prime minister, home minister and the inspector-general of police who are all Muslims. Maybe this is a sign of the end-times,” he told the assembly in Shah Alam this afternoon.

‘Tear gas fired into hospital’

Speaking in support of the motion, Jenice Lee (DAP-Teratai) also stood up and told the assembly that dictatorship is very much prevalent in Malaysia.

“Dictatorship has ended in places like Indonesia and China. But it is still alive and kicking in Malaysia,” she said.

NONE Having participated in the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, she also refuted the police accounts that tear gas was not fired into the Tung Shin Hospital on Jalan Pudu.

“I urge the police to stop their lies saying that no tear gas was fired into the hospital. I saw it with my very own eyes that tear gas was fired into Tung Shin. I have been going to Tung Shin for my checkups since 1985, I know the hospital compound very well,” she said.

However, Wong Koon Mun (BN-Kuala Kubu Baru) interjected and challenged her account.

“Did you really see the tear gas canister in the hospital compound? Did you? Did you? See, you can’t even answer. Don’t lie now. (Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai) has already denied that tear gas was fired into the hospital, so did the board of directors,” he said.

NONE At this juncture, Amirudin Shari (PKR-Batu Caves) quipped: “ Nak bodek Liow Tiong Lai nampak (Looks like you want to suck up to Liow Tiong Lai)”.

Liow ( centre in photo ) is the MCA deputy president.

But holding the fort for the opposition block was Kuang assemblyperson Abdul Shukor Idrus, who congratulated the police as well as the federal government for “handling the rally well”.

“They promised 100,000 people but the end only 5,000 came. It shows that the Bersih 2.0 rally has failed but it left very deep socio-political impact apart from creating a lot of hassle for a lot of people,” he said, citing the police estimates.

“I see that Bersih 2.0 has been influenced with the ways of foreign countries but harmony is the fundamental principle in Malaysia that everyone has to defend,” he said.