KUALA LUMPUR — March 7, 2018: Former police chief Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told a hearing today that there was evidence which showed the aim of the Steering Committee on the Coalition for Clean and fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) in organising a rally on April 28, 2012, was to topple the government.
Khalid testified that the Bersih 3.0 rally was initially aimed at ensuring clean elections but it turned unruly and became out of control which resulted in damage to government property.
“Their (participants) objective was clear, to topple the government through other means,” he said during examination-in-chief by lawyer Mohamed Nasser Yusof, who represented Sungai Besar Umno leader Datuk Seri Jamal Md. Yunos, in a defamation suit filed by Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah.
Questioned by lawyer N. Surendran, representing Maria, on the proof that showed Bersih rally was held to topple the government, Khalid replied their action in holding a large gathering and inciting the public was intended for the purpose.
“That is not the way to assemble by saying that the elections in the country was not clean and giving politically-charged speeches,” he said.
He also said that Maria, who was the Bersih organiser, did not respect the law and didn’t follow the advice given by the authorities during the rally.
He further stated that Maria was investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act in 2015 as police had obtained information that Bersih received foreign funding but agreed with Surendran that she was released unconditionally.
Maria filed the suit in October 2016, claiming that Jamal, who is also the Coalition of Malay Non-governmental Organisations chairman and leader of the Red Shirts movement, had slandered her during a press conference on September 28 the same year.
In her statement of claim, Maria said Jamal had allegedly issued the defamatory statement on two occasions. The first was at a press conference within the Putra World Trade Centre and the second at the federal police headquarters on October 4. — Bernama
