Najib endorsed threats against me, says Ambiga...

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan accused the prime minister of “endorsing” threats against her in the run-up to the public rally for electoral reform on July 9.

Recounting the “horrifying” experiences today, she told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) public inquiry that her personal safety was at stake by “state actors and non-state actors alike”.

The experienced lawyer and former Bar Council president cited reports carried by news portal The Malaysian Insider (TMI) where Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had reportedly supported Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia (PSSLM), which had challenged to take on Bersih, if coalition refused to cancel the July 9 rally.

"I believe, if there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within, ‘anak-anak lincah’ will rise to fight them,” Najib reportedly said two days before the rally.

It did not just stop at that, related Ambiga ( right), as prior to that on July 2, Najib labelled her as a “threat to Islam”.

“Who doesn’t know Ambiga. She’s the one who threatened Islam. And below her is Mat Sabu,” said Ambiga, reading out Najib’s quotes.

She was also accused of being supportive of apostates and claimed to have represented Muslim convert Azlina Jailani (also known as Lina Joy), who dragged the government to court for refusing to legally recognise her conversion to Christianity.

“There were calls to strip me of my citizenship, attacks by state-controlled media and I believe that all this was condoned by the government,” said Ambiga.

In strengthening her testimony, Ambiga submitted various news reports and clippings as well as copies of ‘public service announcements’ on government-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) “demonising Bersih”.

She added that Malay-rights group Perkasa had burned pictures of her and widely distributed leaflets describing her as - ‘Awas! Ambiga wanita Hindu yang berbahaya’.

Ambiga pointed out Perkasa’s veiled threat when their chief Ibrahim Ali warned the Chinese against joining the rally, asking them to stay home and “stock up on food”, in reference to the Emergency period imposed during the racial riots in 1969 that left scores dead.

“(On top of that), I was called a traitor and that my citizenship should be stripped.

‘Until today none have been charged’

“However, until today none of them (who threatened me) have been charged, maybe called in for a statement but that’s about it... nothing happened although it was an open threat of criminal intimidation,” she said.

Furthermore, the mainstream media blatantly accused Bersih of being a front for Christian, Jewish and other foreign groups, said Ambiga, who was also accused of funds being channelled into her personal account.

“I was given the impression that my accounts were being investigated. If they were the authorities till today have no decency to clear me of the accusations,” she said.

Suhakam vice-chairperson and panel head Khaw Lake Tee then asked Ambiga to describe how she felt when everything was brought to her knowledge.

“Well it didn’t make me happy. It was very discomforting. I was absolutely horrified at the extent they would go to stop the rally.

“There was a clear intention to cause me harm... that’s why I had to hire a bodyguard upon my family’s insistence,” she said.

The threats, she said, gave her fears that she was being followed and her mobile phone tapped.

Conducting officer Ameer Izyanif Hamzah asked if there were any direct threats of physical violence, and Ambiga told the panel about theSMS threat  that was being circulated on June 23.

“Besides the text message there was also a Twitter feed by Papagoma, who I believe is widely known to be well-connected to Umno, who called for me to be gang-raped. So disgraceful,” she said in disdain.

This was not the only threat, said Ambiga, and she proceeded to lodge a police report.

Quizzed by the panel on why she neglected to lodge complains on the other threats, Ambiga replied: “Firstly, I was told that there is no need to report all the instances as the police don’t need one to initiate investigations.

“Secondly, it is not practical... I would have to go every day then because we were threatened often.

“Thirdly, I felt that the entire machinery of the state and the authorities were against me, so I felt there was no point.”

However, the threats did not hinder her day-to-day activities, said Ambiga, although her family members were very concerned for her safety.

Najib 'restui' ancaman ke atas saya, dakwa Ambiga

Pengerusi BERSIH 2.0 Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan menuduh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak "merestui" ancaman yang dibuat ke atas dirinya menjelang perhimpunan awam menuntut reformasi pilihan raya pada 9 Julai tahun lalu.

Sambil menceritakan pengalaman yang "mengerikan" itu kepada siasatan awam Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) hari ini, Ambiga berkata keselamatan peribadi dipertaruhkan.
Memetik laporan portal berita The Malaysian Insider, yang melaporkan Najib menyokong Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Malaysia, sebuah organisasi kumpulan-kumpulan silat yang memberi amaran bahawa mereka akan berdepan dengan BERSIH 2.0 jika perhimpunan itu tidak dibatalkan.

"Saya percaya, jika ada musuh-musuh jahat yang mahu menyerang negara ini baik dari luar mahupun dari dalam, 'anak-anak lincah' akan bangkit melawan mereka," Najib dipetik berkata dua hari sebelum perhimpunan itu.

Pada 2 Julai tahun lalu, Ambiga berkata Najib juga melabel dirinya sebagai "ancaman kepada Islam" apabila beliau berkata: "Siapa yang tidak kenal Ambiga? Beliau adalah pengancam Islam. Dan di bawah beliau ialah Mat Sabu."

source:malaysiakini

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