Bersih to continue candlelight vigil despite police warning

PETALING JAYA: Electoral reform watchdog Bersih 2.0 will continue with its nightly candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka for its chairman Maria Chin Abdullah despite the police warning that action will be taken against them.

Bersih steering committee member Jay Jay Denis said the vigil will only be stopped when Maria Chin is released from detention.

“In fact, the attendance is increasing everyday regardless of how much the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and police may want to stop it,” Jay Jay said.

He was responding to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s warning that police will take serious action against those who hold candlelight vigils within the historic square’s vicinity as the square is off limits to them. On Tuesday, KL mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz had ordered for the closure of Dataran Merdeka from 5pm to 7am for one week, in a move to prevent Bersih from holding its nightly vigil at the iconic square.

Bersih has been holding the vigil for Maria Chin at Dataran Merdeka since Monday, seeking for her release.

Maria Chin is being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code for attempting “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” and detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Meanwhile in KUALA LUMPUR, Maria Chin’s “habeas corpus” application to challenge her 28 days’ detention under the Sosma is to be heard on Nov 29.

In the application, Maria Chin named Supt Tham Lai Kuan (head of classified crimes investigation unit, Bukit Aman), the inspector-general of police, home minister and the Malaysian government as respondents.

Outside the court, Maria Chin’s lawyer Datuk S. Ambiga’s said solitary confinement was against the lock-up rules, referring to the IGP’s statement that Maria Chin’s condition was in accordance to the rules.

Her eldest son Azumin Mohamad Yunus, 23, had filed a supporting affidavit for the application in which he stated that Maria Chin was arrested at about 3.10pm on Nov 18 from her office.