Bersih, which is planning a massive overnight rally on August 29 and 30, has warned that a planned cyber attack by Anonymous Malaysia on the same date will jeopardise the protest.
This was after Anonymous Malaysia, a hacktivist group, announced that it will launch an attack on 150 government-related websites in conjunction with the Bersih 4 rally.
The group, in an 8-minute video, had expressed support for Bersih 4 and said the cyber attack is geared at forcing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resign.
"We do not condone, and must condemn the threats issued by this so called group of hackers who have misused Bersih 4’s campaign in order to further their own agenda, whatever that may be.
"Bersih does not agree nor tolerate with vicious attacks, either physical or virtual, towards a democratically elected government, however flawed the electoral system might have been," said Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah in a statement today.
"We therefore ask that this group of computer enthusiasts to immediately cease and desist from misusing the Bersih 4 campaign, and advise them to not carry out their threat which will only jeopardise the peaceful assembly that will take place at the end of the month," she added.
Maria expressed concern that there may be unknown individuals unaffiliated to Bersih, who may try to put their demands for institutional reforms in jeopardy and blunt the success of its campaign.
"We therefore urge the police, to take immediate action, in order to stop this act of terror from taking place and jeopardising the constitutionally entrenched right of the people to assemble and express whatever displeasure they might have, for the sake of a better parliamentary democracy in our beloved nation.
"Bersih reiterates that we demand clean elections, clean government, right to dissent, strengthening parliamentary democracy, and saving the economy; without resorting to violence or extortion, either physical or virtual," she said.
Bersih was behind Bersih 3.0 in 2012, which succeeded in mobilising over 100,000 people, the biggest protest in the country's modern history.
Bersih 4 comes amid the controversy of RM2.6 billion being deposited into the personal bank accounts of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Related reports
M'sia's Q2 growth seen slowest in two years
Ringgit falls through RM4 to US$ barrier
Are Malaysians now currency experts?
Opposition figures sue PM, 1MDB and EC
Salleh: Gov't's main focus is on improving economy
'Hacktivists' attacks will jeopardise Bersih 4'
Stay on suspension order – Edge to know Friday
'Give Najib the same chance Mahathir got'
Despite 1MDB, business as usual in Banglasia
