BERSIH 2.0 condemns the arrest of former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau over a Facebook post allegedly insulting the prime minister and his wife. While he has since been released, he should never have been arrested in the first place.

While BERSIH 2.0 strongly disagrees with the tone and vulgarity of his posts, we believe that he has the right to express his opinions without fear of punishment. Freedom of speech is an important and healthy aspect of a democratic society, where differing views should be encouraged as a check and balance to the system.

Hew’s arrest is the latest selective action taken against mere Facebook postings deemed to be against certain parties, which are unnecessary punitive measures.

BERSIH 2.0 urges the authorities to stop penalising citizens for exercising their freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 10 of our constitution and focus instead on more serious crimes. BERSIH 2.0 trusts that our leaders’ egos are not so fragile that the police have to act as bodyguards of their image.

Signed by the BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee members