DBKL says "NO" to Bersih 3.0...

Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) has rejected Bersih’s plans to hold their sit-in on April 28 at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
 
According to the coalition for clean and fair elections Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah (right), they received a letter from DBKL at around 11 this morning.

According to the letter that was read out during Bersih’s press conference, DBKL said the event is not suitable to be held at the Dataran.


The council said the venue is to be used only for events of “national level" such as celebrations.

"We regret to inform that your application cannot be approved as the activity intended is unsuitable to be used in Dataran Merdeka as stipulated by the DBKL.

"Only national level events are allowed at the Dataran like the National Day celebration and Federal Territories Day," read the letter by DBKL deputy director of operations Normah Malik.

Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the coalition sent letters to DBKL and the police on Monday evening in relation to the rally.

DBKL however denied receiving any application from the coalition on the planned sit-in.

The letter by Normah referred to Bersih’s letter dated April 16.

Responding to the rejection, Ambiga said she was “not surprised” and that the sit-in will proceed as “Dataran Merdeka belongs to the rakyat”.

“There are many events held there, and a company recently held their celebrations at the Dataran, too,” she said, referring to the Nestle 100th anniversary celebrations last month.

She added that the coalition will not appeal the decision, and that it will continue with preparations including dealing with police who have asked the NGO to come in to fill in some forms.

“If there are any obstructions (by DBKL) on the day, we will negotiate with them,” she said.
Home minister okayed sit-in

Yesterday Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement that the sit-in is not a "security threat, as it has little traction with the people".

Bersih, the coalition for clean and fair elections, is organising the event in the capital city following the failure of the Election Commission to implement the coalition's eight demands after the massive rally last July 9.

Supporters in 33 cities worldwide plan to organise solidarity sit-ins on the same day to call for clean and fair elections.

Joining the KL rally is anti-Lynas group Himpunan Hijau, that successfully held a rally attended by thousands in Kuantan earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the solidarity sit-in in Sabah is also facing some problems as police yesterday announced that it will hold its practice exercise at the sit-in venue Padang Merdeka on Apr 28.

Sabah sit-in organiser Andrew Ambrose, who was also present at the press conference today, said Bersih hopes to share the field with the police.

“We hope we can have our sit-in and watch the police practice. It will be a good civil exercise for Sabahans who have been intimidated by the police,” he said.- malaysiakini

DBKL tak izin demo BERSIH di Dataran...

Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) tidak mengizinkan BERSIH menggunakan Dataran Merdeka untuk perhimpunan menuntut pilihan raya bersih dan adil yang dianjurkan mereka pada 28 April ini.

Jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH Maria Chin Abdullah berkata, perkara itu dimaklumkan melalui surat kira-kira jam 11 pagi ini.

Dalam sidang media di Kuala Lumpur hari ini, BERSIH turut membacakan kandungan surat itu kepada pemberita yang memberikan alasan Dataran Merdeka hanya boleh digunakan untuk acara "peringkat nasional" seperti sambutan hari kebangsaan dan hari Wilayah Persekutuan.
 
Menurut pengerusi bersama BERSIH Ambiga Sreenevasan, pihaknya mengutus surat kepada DBKL dan polis pada pagi Isnin.

DBKL sebelum ini menafikan menerima sebarang permohonan daripada gabungan NGO itu berhubung bantahan "duduk bantah" mereka.- malaysiakini

 cheers.