accused of colluding to a "pre-planned" skirmish which resulted in two
people being injured by "at least two rounds" of live ammunition after
the authorities denied permission for an organised political event from
being held at Batu Buruk in Terengganu, Saturday Sept 8.
Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) Terengganu commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali
named Internal Security Minister political secretary Senator Datuk Wan
Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as among those allegedly responsible for the
pre-planned skirmishes.
In a press conference held at PAS headquarters here today by a coalition
of political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations
calling themselves BERSIH, Mustafa said witnesses are willing to come
forward to testify that the skirmishes was pre-planned.
He said a police officer was informed in a meeting on the afternoon of
Sept 8, of the identities of those attending the event and that
plain-clothed policemen were asked to wear a ribbon to identify
themselves.
"Full investigation must be done by the police to get the whole picture on
what has transpired," he said. He said UMNO from the ruling coalition had
taken the measure because "the people had shown they were more than
willing to reject UMNO and the ruling coalition in the next election."
"That's why they have (to resort to these measures)," he said. Wan Ahmad
Farid could not be immediately contacted for comments.
Mustafa also noted that an application submitted for a police permit Aug
30 for the event which was to be held in a private premise, and the
police rejected it on the grounds that the area was heavily populated and
that the event would be a nuisance.
He rejected the reason given as "groundless" and noted that police
officers came twice on Sept 7 and 8 to ask the owner of the premise to
sign a letter not to allow the event from being held there.
Mustafa said the police then dismantled a platform erected for the event
at about 5pm on the day of the event - in the absence of owner - in a
move he described as "morally and legally wrong".
The event by BERSIH was to highlight the growing call for free and fair
elections which among others includes the demand for postal ballot to be
abolished, the use of indelible ink during voting day, the cleaning up of
the voters rolls deemed to be littered with "phantom voters" and equal
access to the media.
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