Electoral watchdog Bersih today filed an judicial review application to challenge the ban on yellow Bersih 4 T-shirts, gazetted days before the mammoth rally on Aug 29 and 30.
The Home Minister had on Aug 27 banned T-shirts and “any other printed material and pamphlet which leads to Bersih 4 rally”.
Bersih said the ban has “branded as criminals” thousands of Malaysians, who have the right to own Bersih 4 T-shirts and pamphlets.
“The Home Minister’s order was unreasonable, illegal and made in bad faith,” it said.
Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians are now branded as criminals as a result of the Home Minister’s order.
Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali and PKR’s Batu MP Tian Chua are under investigation for wearing the T-shirts.
The NGO also issued a letter of demand to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to lift the ban on the website www.bersih.org within seven days or face court action.
Access to the website through Malaysian internet service providers has been barred since Aug 27.
“The MCMC’s ban on their website is irrational, unjustifiable, made in bad faith and in any event, illegal.
“Such an act by MCMC is a violation of every citizen’s freedom of information,” it said.
The Bersih 4 rally, among others, called for good governance and the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
It was attended by at least 100,000 people and prompted a counter-rally, postponed to Sept 16, by Malay groups who claimed the Bersih 4 rally had insulted Malays.
Related reports
MCA: AG’s insufficient evidence on Ali Tinju ‘surprising’
Taylor's nixes contract with bus operator over red rally
Najib: Racial slurs at red shirt rally will be probed
Analysts: Red shirts failed to achieve all their aims
Journalists recount racial slurs, abuse at red shirt rally
Lim moots Rafidah to head racial harmony committee
Yes, Malays need to defend themselves - from Umno
Red shirt rally - Umno the biggest losers
Red shirts’ objective is to spook the Chinese
Look who’s talking - so red shirt rally not racial?
