Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that the allegation of Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos that Bersih 5 was infiltrated by the Islamic State or Daesh had put her in a bad light, as if she was a terrorist and involved in heavy crimes.
Testifying in her defamation suit against Jamal, Maria said Bersih 5 was a gathering organised by Bersih 2.0, in which she is chairperson.
“I am the public face of Bersih 5.
“However, Jamal claims on Sept 28 and Oct 4, 2016, that Bersih would not only gather in KL but also in strategic places like the Kuala Lumpur International Airport or the Prime Minister's Office, and was infiltrated by IS, had put me in a bad light.
“The statement gave a bad impression of me, as if I had ties with IS or Daesh, and portrayed that I have ties with terrorists, heavy crimes and do not respect the law. It gave a bad impression of me to society,” she said.
Maria said the statement by Jamal (photo) was reported by Sunday Mail, The Star Online, theSun Daily, Malaysiakini, KiniTV, The Malay Mail Online and Free Malaysia Today.
She was replying to questions from her lawyer N Surendran on her defamation suit on Jamal's statements, which led to her being detained by the police under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 for several days before the Bersih 5 rally.
Besides Surendran, the other lawyers representing her were Latheefa Koya and Shahid Adli Kamarudin.
Maria also said that Jamal, who led the red shirts NGO, acted as an enemy of Bersih as he and his followers were involved in the provocation and intimidation of Bersih supporters.
“The defendant always issued vulgar statements against me and Bersih. On Sept 12 (2016), he claimed Bersih 5 was the opposition's lap dog and described me as a circus animal of the opposition.
“On Oct 20, he declared an all-out war against the Bersih gathering and ordered the red shirts to gather and fight Bersih,” she said.
Maria, as Bersih chairperson, filed the suit on Jamal's claim that the coalition for clean and free elections was infiltrated by IS. Jamal made the allegations against Bersih at a press conference on Sept 28, and again on Oct 4, 2016, when he also lodged a police report on the matter.
Earlier today, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's lawyer, Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla, told reporters that Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab has fixed this Wednesday to hear Mahathir's application to set aside the subpoena served on him by Jamal.
It was previously reported that Mahathir had sought to set aside Jamal's subpoena on the grounds that he does not want to be part of the Sungai Besar Umno division's political gimmick.
[More to follow]
- Mkini
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