Focus on demands made at Sabah anti-graft rally, Bersih urges govt

The Star

4 hours ago

PETALING JAYA: Bersih calls upon the government to focus on the demands coming from the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally.
Bersih chairman Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said that the most important emphasis coming from the rally was that the government must be truly firm in combating corruption.
'The people have put such high hopes to the government in carrying out reform promises including carrying institutional reforms to agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) to make sure that it is independent and accountable.
'Besides that, the issue of delay in prosecution against those involved in the corruption scandal in Sabah has increased the people's disappointment,' he said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) here on Tuesday (June 24).
Muhammad Faisal added that the delay could lead to fears, which could undermine public trust in the authorities.
He also called upon the government to fulfil its promise in separating the roles of the Attorney General and the public prosecutor.
'The political financing bill should immediately be tabled where it can be a game changer to clean up the country from corruption in the future,' he said.
On Monday *June 23), Sabah police opened three investigation papers involving nine offences linked to the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 gathering held over the weekend here.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said some of the offences fall under the 3R category (race, religion and royalty), and investigations are being carried out under several laws, primarily the Penal Code and Sedition Act.
'Among the offences were incitement, burning materials in public areas, and bringing hazardous items such as fuel to the gathering.
'These are among the 16 conditions outlined by the Kota Kinabalu district police chief that the organisers were required to comply with,' he said.
Jauteh explained that the conditions were intended to ensure the gathering proceeded without disrupting public order or posing safety risks.
'We are not saying that they definitely violated the conditions, but we are investigating reports of possible legal breaches, not merely the act of assembling itself,' he said.
Asked whether the organisers, comprising Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students under the banner Suara Mahasiswa, had misled police when submitting their rally notice, Jauteh said the students had not provided accurate information.
'They claimed it was unusual for police to respond with conditions, but they should have understood, especially with legal counsel present, that our actions were in line with the Peaceful Assembly Act,' he said.
He clarified that the police response was not a form of approval, but an acknowledgement of the notice submitted, along with conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the public and participants.
'The organisers submitted the notice five days before the event, and within three days, police replied through the district police chief, Asst Comm Kasim Muda, outlining the 16 conditions.
'The aim was to assist, not to suppress. Our presence during the procession was to prevent any untoward incidents,' he said.
Despite the organisers describing the event as peaceful, Jauteh said failure to comply with certain conditions had triggered investigations.
'Although police did not take immediate action at the time, this does not mean no action will follow,' he noted.
He stressed that if any actions during the assembly breached the law, police will investigate and submit the findings to the Attorney General's Chambers for further action.
Several individuals, including participants, members of the public, and police officers involved in monitoring the event, are currently being called to provide statements.
On a separate matter, Jauteh said police are also investigating a report that several students' vehicles were splashed with acid. The case is being probed under Section 500 of the Penal Code.
When asked whether other groups were present at the scene, Jauteh confirmed that at least one other group was in the area.
'We are investigating the extent of their involvement, particularly individuals identified by the public as wearing white shirts,' he said.
He added that the crowd was scattered, making it difficult to determine the exact number of participants, but the focus remains on Suara Mahasiswa.