[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0) menyatakan kebimbangan dengan tindakan yang diambil oleh kerajaan yang dilihat sedang mencengkam kebebasan bersuara rakyat dengan dua insiden tangkapan aktivis iaitu penahanan tujuh aktivis anak muda di Kampung Muhibbahraya, Tawau, Sabah pada 25 April dan penahanan Fahmi Reza pada 23 April 2021.

Tangkapan aktivis selama dua hari berturut-turut ini menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan tidak menghormati Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang melindungi kebebasan bersuara oleh rakyat. Rakyat bawahan hanya mampu melaungkan suara bagi menyatakan kesusahan dan tuntutan mereka yang semakin hari semakin terhimpit. Bantahan daripada rakyat sehingga turun ke jalanan menunjukkan bahawa keadaan semakin terdesak dan kerajaan perlu mendengar suara mereka.

Tindakan menangkap rakyat yang membantah serta mengkritik polisi kerajaan adalah sangat keterlaluan dan tidak mencerminkan kerajaan yang prihatin serta mengangkat suara rakyat sebagai tunjang demokrasi negara. Apatah lagi dengan penggantungan Parlimen, ruang bersuara dalam negara semakin hari semakin dikunci dengan rapat oleh kerajaan dan ini sememangnya membahayakan demokrasi negara kita.

Bersih 2.0 juga mengecam pihak polis yang didakwa mengasari salah seorang aktivis di Kampung Muhibbahraya, iaitu Mukmin Nantang, bahawa beliau telah dipukul di bahu dan dada. Tindakan memukul orang kena tahan adalah salahguna kuasa polis dan melanggar hak asasi manusia. Apatah lagi aktivis yang ditahan langsung tidak melawan dan mengasari pihak polis tersebut.

Bersih 2.0 sekali lagi menyeru seluruh rakyat Malaysia untuk terus mempertahankan kebebasan bersuara, berekspresi dan kebebasan berhimpun sebagai tunjang demokrasi negara kita.

Bersih 2.0 juga menggesa agar tujuh orang aktivis yang ditahan di Kampung Muhibbahraya, dibebaskan dengan segera tanpa sebarang syarat tindakan undang-undang. Bersih 2.0 mengalu-alukan pembebasan Fahmi Reza daripada reman dan menggesa pihak polis untuk menggugurkan penyiasatan kepada aktivis yang bersuara demi rakyat. – Bersih 2.0, 25 April 2021

English version

Protect freedom of speech and assembly, defend pillars of democracy

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) expresses concern over the action taken by the government in stifling the people’s freedom of speech with two separate incidents of activist arrests, namely the detention of seven activists in Kampung Muhibbahraya, Tawau, Sabah on 25 April and the detention of Fahmi Reza on 23 April 2021.

The arrests of activists for two days in a row show that the government does not respect the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which protects the people’s right to freedom of speech. Ordinary people only have their voices to express their difficulties and demands, which are increasingly suppressed by the day. The protests from the people to the point of going to the streets show that the situation is getting more desperate on the ground, and the government needs to listen to their voices.

The arrests of protesters who criticise government policies is extremely outrageous and does not reflect a government that cares and carries the voices of the people as the backbone of the country’s democracy.

Moreover, with the suspension of Parliament, the space to speak up in the country is increasingly being silenced by the government, and this is indeed perilous to the democracy of our country.

Bersih 2.0 also condemns the police who allegedly assaulted one of the activists, Mukmin Nantang, in Kampung Muhibbahraya, on the shoulder and chest. The act of beating up a detainee is an abuse of power and a human rights violation. Furthermore, the activists who were arrested did not act violently against the police.

Bersih 2.0 once again calls upon on all Malaysians to continue to defend the freedom of speech, expression and assembly as the core of our country’s democracy.

Bersih 2.0 also calls for the immediate release of the seven activists detained in Kampung Muhibbahraya without any conditions of legal action.

Bersih 2.0 welcomes the release of Fahmi Reza from remand and urges the police to drop the investigation on the activists who were exercising their constitutionally enshrined freedom. – Bersih 2.0, 25 April 2021

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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