The Sabah chapter of Bersih 2.0 is planning to rally some 10,000 people for a May Day rally to press the state government to address long-standing issues with illegal immigrants here.
By Julia Chan | Monday April 13, 2015 | 03:51 PM GMT+8
KOTA KINABALU, April 13 — The Sabah chapter of Bersih 2.0 is planning to rally some 10,000 people for a May Day rally to press the state government to address long-standing issues with illegal immigrants here.
The electoral watchdog said at least 35 civil society groups in Sabah have agreed to join the peaceful rally.
“We have submitted our recommendations to the technical committee chairman (Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan), and hope our voices are heard,” said the group’s spokesperson Jannie Lasimbang during a press conference today.
Among the recommendations forwarded by the group include introducing special identity cards for documented natives that will also invalidate dubious identity papers issued previously and incorporated into the electoral roll.
Lasimbang said the group also wanted amendments to Section 9A of the Election Act 1958, which will allow for deletion of gazetted voters over the issuance of illegal identification papers, adding that the process should be carried out by an accredited, independent body to uphold its credibility.
“Other participating CSOs will also be highlighting current issues plaguing the public including the recently implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) and hudud law.
Lasimbang said that the group will adhere to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
Currently, the group is considering Padang Merdeka as the venue for the two-hour rally beginning from 3pm on May 1.
“We will be abiding by the law so we hope that the authorities will not restrict us from carrying out this peaceful rally,” she said.
Also present at the Press conference was DAP state chief Jimmy Wong and human rights activist Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.