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Police say Penang Bersih 3.0 assembly not a security issue
Aliran had two separate meetings today with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kok Meng over the Bersih 3.0 simultaneous solidarity assembly in Penang.
During the meeting with the Chief Minister at Komtar this morning, the CM confirmed that he would be attending Penang Bersih 3.0 at Speakers’ Square at the Esplanade this Saturday, 28 April.
The CM disclosed he had written a letter to the police stating that the state government had no objection to the event and supports the organisers, Aliran, who are organising the peaceful sit-in. The letter was handed to the organisers to be hand-delivered to the police. In the letter, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that the police would ensure the safety and security of those attending the gathering.
In the afternoon, the Aliran representatives met with OCPD Gan and senior police officers at the Northeast District Police Headquarters at Patani Road. At the meeting, they handed over the Chief Minister’s letter to ACP Gan.
ACP Gan mentioned the police did not consider the Penang Bersih 3.0 solidarity assembly a security issue. He said the police would be there to facilitate the flow of traffic and prevent any untoward incident. He added he appreciated that the organisers had informed the police about the event and stated that such a peaceful assembly is allowed in a democratic country in line with the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
Aliran reiterated that the event was meant to be peaceful.
The society was represented at the meetings today by Dr Francis Loh (president), P Ramakrishnan, Dr Prema Devaraj, Ch’ng Teng Liang, Anil Netto, Henry Loh and Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, who also sits on the Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee.
Dr Francis Loh
President
24 April 2012