Bersih 4 rally a no-confidence vote against Najib, says leader

Bersih 2.0's Maria Chin Abdullah, launching the movement's Bersih 4 rally in Petaling Jaya last night, says the political system must be cleansed in order to bring about clean leaders. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, August 15, 2015.

The Bersih 4 rally at the end of the month will be like a vote of no-confidence against Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said last night at the launch of its latest campaign for reforms amid a financial scandal implicating the prime minister.

While aimed at pressuring Najib to step down, Bersih 4 from August 29 to 30 will also tell people that replacing the prime minister will not change anything if the current political system remained, she added.

"Bersih 4 is a 34-hour peaceful gathering for the first time in Malaysian history and it is a vote of no confidence against Najib.

"Bersih 4 demands not only for a clean prime minister and government, but we also want a clean  political system that gives birth to a clean prime minister and government.

"Bersih 4 is the manifestation of the people's voice to call for a vote of no confidence against Najib. This is the voice of the people to strenghten parliamentary democracy," she said at the launch of the rally in Petaling Jaya last night.

The launch saw song performances, sketches and speeches. National laureate A. Samad Said read his poem entitled "Bersih Empat" while the organisers also introduced their medical, security and monitoring teams who will be on standby during the overnight rally.

The rally will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, as well as major cities worldwide.

The event at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur will be a 34-hour sit-in to demand for reforms such as clean elections, a corrupt-free government, the right to protest, strengthening parliament democracy and saving the economy.

Maria said changing the prime minister would not solve anything without major reforms to institutions and the political system.

"If our political system does not change, it doesn't matter who takes over from Najib, whether it is  Muhyiddin or Zahid or another person, another 1MDB and PKFZ will continue," she said, referring to the debt-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sacked as deputy prime minister after openly questioning Najib over 1MDB. He was replaced by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the home minister, in a Cabinet reshuffle on July 28.

"If his replacement is stubborn, we will have more rallies," she added.

She said the rally was not meant to topple the government, but was a rejection of a corrupt political system that gave rise to corrupt leaders.

Supporters of Bersih 4 paint their faces at the rally's launching in Civic Hall, Petaling Jaya, last night. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, August 15, 2015.

Maria added that Bersih felt the people had no more voice but to hold a rally as their repeated demands to Najib to answer allegations were met with silence.

"We gave Najib until August 5 to answer. Do you think we were unreasonable? I don't think so," she said.

She said Najib had yet to answer claims that 1MDB funds may have indirectly funded part of the prime minister's election campaign in the 2013 national polls, after the firm bought overpriced power assets from the Genting Group.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had reported in June that Genting then used part of the proceeds from the sale to make a RM35 million donation to a foundation under Najib, who then promoted projects by this charity during his election campaign.

In its second report on July 2, WSJ reported that some US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was funnelled into two of Najib's accounts at AmBank in Kuala Lumpur, the largest portion of the money – US$681 million – transferred in March 2013, ahead of the general election in May that year.

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has since announced that the funds were actually a donation from a Middle Eastern donor.

Maria said instead of answering allegations, Najib embarked on a purge by dropping his critics in Cabinet and changing the attorney-general who was in the midst of investigating 1MDB and the transfer of funds to the prime minister's accounts.

Najib also crippled the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which was investigating 1MDB by elevating four of its members, including its chairman, to the administration. This caused the investigation to be frozen until October when Parliament elects new panel members as replacements.

"This means Najib has no intention to allow investigation  into 1MDB to go on," Maria said.

Maria on Thursday met with police to explain Bersih's plans for the rally, and also to remind the authorities of their responsibility to facilitate the demonstration and ensure the safety of participants.

She said Bersih had given formal notice to police about the rally, as required by law.

The Bersih 2 and 3 rallies in 2011 and 2013 saw tear gas used on protestors, arrests made and some media personnel beaten.

Participants of the fourth rally in Kuala Lumpur have been told to congregate atmeeting points at Brickfields, Pasar Seni, Sogo, the National Mosque and Dataran Maybank - before making their way to Dataran Merdeka.

They are also advised to bring along sleeping bags, tents and other necessities for the rally.

Various activities have been planned, including civic education workshops, public debates, cultural  performances and speeches by community leaders.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid on Wednesday advised organisers to avoid seditious sentiments such as encouraging the public to topple the government through illegal means.

He said police would intervene if the rally turned seditious.

- TMI