He admits that the crackdown would affect Najib's leadership but the ruling coalition will not have problems regaining support.
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite having met with Bersih leader S Ambiga prior to the rally, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi criticised the poll watchdog for holding the Bersih 2.0 rally despite the King’s advice against it.
Speaking to reporters here, Abdullah revealed today he had arranged a meeting with Ambiga last Wednesday to “remind” her to heed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice against holding a street protest and hold dialogues instead to convey its demands.
“I wanted to see her. I wanted to remind her that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had made an important statement on the issue, and that she must abide by it.
“I told her that she should abide by what was impressed upon (by the King), that we should not have the rally,” he said.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in an unprecedented move called on the Najib administration to meet Bersih and discuss the issue of clean and fair elections amid heightened tension in the build-up to the rally.
Abdullah also denied having played a part in arranging Bersih’s audience with the King, abruptly saying, “I don’t arrange anything,” when queried by reporters.
Bersih initially called off its rally but decided to proceed and hold it at Stadium Merdeka after the poll watchdog felt Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had reneged on his promise to resolve the debacle amicably by providing the group with a venue.
Police did well
Riot police fired tear gas and sprayed chemical-laced on what Bersih leaders claimed to be 50,000 supporters and arrested close to 1,700 people, including the group’s top leaders and prominent opposition lawmakers.
They claimed police brutality was committed on a peaceful rally that left scores injured and also the death of Baharuddin Ahmad, the husband of a PKR division leader.
Police handling of the rally has drawn widespread condemnation at home and abroad.
Abdullah defended the police action against Bersih supporters, saying the authorities were “very careful” given the circumstances.
He said the protest could have been disastrous and could have spiralled out of control if the police had failed to manage the situation.
“Under the circumstances and amid fears that something bad might happen, the police were doing their best.
“It is not easy for them to make sure that the rally did not turn out to become disastrous… the police were very careful,” he said.
Bersih leaders have urged Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to probe the alleged police aggression against Bersih protesters last Saturday.
PKR, whose de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was injured at the rally, has demanded that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) be set up for similar reasons.
Anwar is said to have sustained injuries when police allegedly fired tear gas canisters at him and other party leaders at the pedestrian underpass in Kuala Lumpur Sentral. Also injured was his bodyguard.
PKR leaders claimed the attack on them was intentional. All three were hospitalised and warded later.
BN can regain support
Observers believe that allegations of police brutality and the harsh clampdown on Bersih and its opposition backers could trigger a potential voter backlash.
Abdullah agreed with this observation but was quick to say that the ruling coalition will not have problems regaining support.
“There may be some effects but our government is sensitive. If something can be done to improve the situation, why not? They will do it,” he said.
Abdullah also seemed to agree with the suggestion that Bersih had become an opposition tool to spread anti-government propaganda, saying that none of the demands made by the outfit was raised in Parliament so far.
“These groups have never brought up any kind of issue in Parliament but instead they have to take it to the streets,” he said, adding that Malaysians are “mature” enough to make decisions without having to resort to street rallies.
Abdullah, like Najib, insisted that the majority of the people are with the Barisan Nasional and that the ruling coalition is not ignorant of the voters’ needs.
