Its chairperson, Maria Chin Abdullah, revealed that while several Red Shirts movement supporters had attempted to interrupt the convoy, the men in blue ensured things never got out of hand.
“Today, the police in Kedah, Johor, Perlis and Kelantan have set the standard as to how peaceful assemblies can be managed.
“I hope that the police in other states will take the cue and uphold the right to peaceful assemblies,” she told FMT.
The peaceful procession in Kedah was in stark contrast to the ugly scenes witnessed in Teluk Intan, Perak, which saw a scuffle between the Bersih 2.0 supporters and those from the Red Shirts movement.
Red Shirts supporters also harassed the convoy in Lumut, Perak, while a Bersih 2.0 supporter was reportedly pelted with a stone in Padang Besar, Perlis.
Led by Sungai Besar Umno Division Chief Jamal Yunos, the Red Shirts had a month ago launched “Merah V2” — a campaign aimed at countering Bersih 2.0’s nationwide convoy.
Jamal was reported as saying that the Red Shirts were set to “descend” on all locations announced by Bersih 2.0.
The objective of the Bersih 5 convoy is to raise awareness of the need for institutional reforms and the severity of the 1MDB crisis.