
Suhakam chief Tan Sri Razali Ismail said in an interview with The Star that the electoral reform group had the right to hold public rallies, but questioned their effectiveness in conveying messages to the authorities. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chief Tan Sri Razali Ismail has expressed support for poll reform group Bersih 2.0’s right to hold its fifth mass rally, clarifying that he never suggested otherwise.
He said his previous statement that Bersih 2.0 should try a different, “sophisticated” approach for its human rights campaign did not mean he opposes the group’s right to public assembly.
“Of course I support,” Razali told Malay Mail Online yesterday when asked on the matter.
“I expressed a personal view about what demonstrations get, but I support the principle, the right to demonstrate,” he added.
Razali, a distinguished former diplomat who was last month appointed as the new head of Suhakam, said in an interview with The Star that the electoral reform group had the right to hold public rallies, but questioned their effectiveness in conveying messages to the authorities.
Reacting to the statement, Bersih 2.0 chair Maria Chin Abdullah rebuked Razali for allegedly mocking the tens of thousands of Malaysians who took part in last year’s 34-hour Bersih 4 rally with remarks on their hygiene. Read more