It Is Now Illegal To Wear Bersih 4 T-Shirts As Government Declares

Image source: freemalaysiatoday

In an order released by the government today, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi declares that yellow t-shirts with Bersih 4 printing are considered to be illegal items. This goes for any other printed material such as pamplets and banners.

The order reads:

“The printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of the publication described in the Schedule which is likely to be prejudicial to public order, likely to be prejudicial to security, likely to be contrary to any law and likely to be prejudicial to national interest are absolutely prohibited throughout Malaysia.” 

The ban is expected to extend over 34 hours.

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah told Malaysiakini, 

Image source: themalaymailonline

“I would like to say, there is nothing wrong in wearing the Bersih t-shirts,” she said.

“We are not going to the streets to defy the government but instead to demand for reform. We want an advancing Malaysia.

“By coming out, we are demanding that the government correct worsening political and economic situation so everything will be back on the track,”

“This is the decision we have to make,” she said.

Chin added, “Beside intimidation, they hope Bersih 4 will fail, but that is not going to happen.”