In particular, Global Bersih and Suaram International slammed the acts of those linked to Umno and PAS, calling these “an orchestrated witch hunt”.
“These attacks by agents and allies of the Najib Razak government and PAS cannot be tolerated and must cease immediately.
“Instead of the harassment and intimidation of potential witnesses, the public focus must be on the defence and counterclaim of the above suit and the serious allegations of corruption and worse contained therein,” they said in a joint statement.
The attacks on Ambiga began on Tuesday following reports that she was the source of information to Clare’s counterclaim that PAS leaders had received money from Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The counterclaim was made in response to Hadi’s suit, filed over an article on Aug 6 last year in which Clare’s whistleblower site, The Sarawak Report, claimed RM90 million was “reckoned” to have entered the accounts of top PAS leaders to woo them into supporting Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).
In her affidavit dated Oct 11, Clare said she and Ambiga had spoken about Najib, 1MDB and PAS in July 2016.
“Ambiga had told the defendant (Clare) that her sources, whom she said were reliable, had estimated the amount that had been paid was around RM90 million,” the affidavit read.
Following the disclosure, top leaders in Umno and PAS had reportedly called on Ambiga to reveal her sources.
PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad also said Ambiga should apologise to the party, adding that she could not remain silent over the matter.
However, Global Bersih and Suaram International said the “barrage of personal insults and harassment from social media users and bloggers linked to the ruling party” was wholly unacceptable.
“Individuals claiming to be news reporters have been caught filming outside Ambiga’s home, harassing those inside.
“These are clearly targeted acts of intimidation, abuse and harassment of a potential witness or person connected to an ongoing legal case in the UK.
“Such conduct appears to be aimed at impeding and obstructing the course of justice in the above mentioned suit and may amount to contempt of the UK court,” they said.
They called on Najib and Hadi to speak out against such acts, and to ensure that all individuals linked to the two parties cease their attacks immediately.
“Like every Malaysian, Ambiga’s personal privacy, rights and safety must be respected and upheld,” they added.