The Home Ministry does not see the April 28 Bersih sit-in at Dataran Merdeka as a security threat, as it has “little traction” with the people.

NONE Speaking to reporters today, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein ( right ) said the only threat would be to organisers, who have to face “negative public perception” as a result.

“It's nothing much really, just some people who want to gather. If it's about parliamentary democracy, we had the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform...

“(If it's) on the Internal Security Act, it (will be) repealed. On PTPTN (student loans), we have to consider the rationale of free higher education, and now on Lynas.

“Everything is put into one pot, but I think there is not much public traction. The people know that actually the intentions are political,” Hishammuddin said.

bersih 3.0 poster story Calling the sit-in "irresponsible", he added that the people may also question the timing of such demonstrations as having it so close to the election smells of “insincerity”.

“As far as threat to public perception is concerned, (the organisers) need to face the risks in the coming general election,” he said.

Demonstrations “are normal in democracy today” and have become a “global culture” and the government dealt with these through the “proper and progressive way”.

“Whether this will be good for the country's future is up to the people to decide,” Hishammuddin said.

He also said that the police would not crack down on demonstrations, unless the organisers “end up doing more” than what they had promised.

“Don't blame the police when this happens. But so far, police have not had to come forward and only the Kuala Lumpur City Council has to deal with it,” he added.