The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) condemns the investigation against activists over the peaceful gatherings held at Dataran Merdeka on 25 and 29 February 2020.

Activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri will be probed under the Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) at Bukit Aman Police Headquarters on 3 March 2020, 11am and will be investigated again with other activists Azura Nasron, A. Sivarajan, Wong Yan Ke and Liew Liang Hong under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) at IPD Dang Wangi on 4 March 2020, 11am.

Once again, the police have decided to silence the dissenters on behalf of the government using draconian laws. The activists are being called for investigation right after the swearing-in of the new prime minister.

Much has been said about the anti-democratic features of the Sedition Act and certain provisions of the CMA and the PAA. They were frequently used to silence dissent since BN era and failed to be abolished under the then Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during PH rule. Our stance remains the same: they must be repealed. 

We urge the police to respect the people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and halt the investigation against the activists immediately. Such intimidation would not silence the people but only fuel the uproar.

Released by, 

Steering Committee of Bersih 2.0