KOTA KINABALU: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has brushed aside a challenge by Umno to hold street protests over alleged unethical practices in the Kimanis by-election, saying it will not be instigated by politicians.
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Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said Bersih would only consider a protest if the government did not respond to an urgent issue.
“Bersih 2.0 does not protest over by-elections but only over systemic institutional failures and absence of response by the government.
“We certainly do not organise protests at the instigation of politicians,” he said when responding to Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri’s call for street protests over alleged “banqueting” and lucky draws held during the by-election campaign period.
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Ismail had said Bersih needed to step up in its actions after it spoke against unethical practices ahead of nominations last Saturday.
Sabah Bersih had questioned the timing of announcements on development allocations, saying there had been at least two isuch incidents.
The first, it said, involved Sabah Rural Development Minister Ewon Benedick, who announced the upgrading of an access road to a surau at Kampung Pantai Sri Gading in Membakut, one of the two state constituencies under Kimanis.
Another incident involved Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Salahuddin Ayub, who presented a cheque for RM90,000 to upgrade a jetty at Kampung Biau in Bongawan, the other state constituency, it said. -FMT