Bersih will continue, in solidarity with arrested leaders - Shahrul

Bersih 2.0 Acting Chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said, Bersih rally will go on despite the strict action taken by the authorities against four of its leaders who were arrested.

"Although they are not here with us now, their spirit remains with us.

"We purposely leave their seats empty, to show that we feel their spirit with us," he told a press conference today, called following the Bersih 5 rally yesterday.

Those arrested were Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, secretariat manager Mandeep Singh and steering committee members Muhammad Safwan Anang and Hishamuddin Rais under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

Thus, Bersih from tonight will start a campaign for the release of their leaders by gathering for a solidarity vigil in front of the Jinjang police station beginning 8pm tonight.

On the presence of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Bersih 5 rally on Saturday, Shahrul Aman denied it was a so-called hijack by the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman as described by certain quarters.

"We don't think he (Dr Mahathir) has hijacked Bersih 5. We were actually surprised (with his presence).

"It was very unlikely that he would come because he was supposed to attend a conference in Sudan which has been planned since a year ago.

"But he cut it short and immediately come back to Malaysia so that he could join us yesterday," he said while expressing appreciation for Dr Mahathir.

Meanwhile, Johor Bersih chief Thomas Fann urged traders and hawkers along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman who have to close shop and incurred losses due to the rally yesterday to claim damages from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

He said, Bersih was not the reason for the losses they suffered.