Bersih 5 convoy to make Pekan stop despite objections

KUANTAN: The Pahang leg of the Bersih 5 convoy will still make a stop in Pekan even though Pekan Umno Youth and several non-governmental organisations have objected to the gathering.

PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said the convoy was supposed to be in Pekan over the weekend but it had been postponed to Oct 29 out of respect for Sultan Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah’s birthday today.

“I am appealing to the Red Shirts to stop their provocations.

“We see it as a very desperate effort to scare the people and it is not proper.

“We foresee there will be interference in Pekan, but we will make every effort to ensure that everyone is safe,” she said during a gathering in front of UTC Kuantan yesterday.

The gathering proceeded smoothly amid a heavy police presence, without any Red Shirt protester in sight.

Fuziah, Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack, Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung and activist Safwan Anang delivered speeches during the gathering before handing out leaflets to the crowd at the pasar tani outside UTC Kuantan.

Bersih 5 convoy coordinator Sitarunisah Ab Kadir added that a ceramah would be held in Pekan on Oct 29.

Pekan Umno Youth chief Shahruddin Ahmad had earlier said that the Bersih convoy should not be held anywhere in Pahang, particularly in Pekan, to avoid any untoward incidents.

In another development, Bersih has demanded for empowerment of native customary land in Sarawak and to money politics in their call for social and political reforms in the state.

In a statement, the group called for restoration of local government elections and development of rural infrastructure as other key areas of reforms.

It asked that the native customary land of indigenous people be recognised as theirs and a Royal Commission be set up to look into the issue.