Anwar says electoral reform fight continues

By Melissa Chi

July 09, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Speaking from his hospital bed with a neck brace, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim vowed the fight for electoral reform will continue, beyond today’s Bersih 2.0 rally.

The opposition leader, who spoke to reporters at the Pantai Hospital here, suffered minor head and leg injuries sustained during the rally and will be staying the night in hospital for further observation.

“We did discuss prior to this, with many of our friends including Ambiga, Uztaz Hadi, being arrested, that this has to go on. This is not the end of our demand,” Anwar (picture) said.

It was reported that about 50,000 supporters showed up for today’s rally although the police said only 6,000 turned up.

There were 1,401 arrests made, and police said everyone would be released by tonight.

“What is clear is that the Umno-led government refused to acknowledge the fact that more Malaysians are ready to exercise their right to vote in a clean and fair election.

“Not withstanding this, you can see the will of the people, with resolve, their commitment and we have seen many demonstrations in the past but we have never seen, for example, the Malays, Chinese, Indians in large numbers. So the attempt by Umno to try and create this as a racial or anti-Malay expression or anti-Muslim, or whatever, I think falls flat,” he said. Anwar also accused the police of using “high-handed tactics, brutal measures”.

“The whole city was basically under curfew from last night and that shows the level of desperation on the part of the authorities.

 “I am very optimistic with the outcome but not too optimistic with the fact that Umno would respond to these demands kindly despite the fact that Tuanku Agong has called for negotiations and to take the heat off the legitimate expressions and concerns,” he said.

Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who was released by police at 6.30 this evening, also declared that Malaysians had shown courage in the face of government intimidation.

She said the “amazing” turnout was a sign that “we do not want to be bullied anymore. Rough intimidation does not work anymore.” The government had declared the movement illegal less than 10 days before today’s march.

It also told the coalition of 62 NGOs on Thursday to move its gathering outside Kuala Lumpur despite Bersih already accepting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s offer to move its street rally to a stadium.