THE police should stop harassing Bersih by asking its officials to go to the police station and give statements, the NGO’s chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said today.

Instead, the police should just prosecute the organisation if it has committed any offence by seeking free and fair elections.

“Stop harassing us, stop asking us to go and give statements, just prosecute us in court.

“Don’t waste our time by making us go to the police station,” she told the media.

Maria was asked to present herself at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters this evening to give a statement regarding a speech she made at a function organised by Penang state assemblyman Lee Khai Loon last December.

Early yesterday morning, three Bersih 2.0 officials had to give statements at the Dang Wangi police headquarters but on a different issue.

The trio – Bersih 2.0 coordinator Mandeep Singh, advocacy coordinator Zoe Randhawa and outreach coordinator Chan Tsu Chong – are being investigated under Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Maria said the police action was an obvious act of harassment against Bersih.

“We just want free and fair elections,” she said.

Maria said so far, at least 10 Bersih members including sponsors involved in the NGO’s activities had been called to give statements.

“After I was freed of Sosma charges, I have been hauled up four times already (including today).”

Maria also said she chose to remain silent when told to give her statement.

“Six questions were directed at me but I chose to remain silent. It did not concern Sosma, they were merely questioning me why the ceramah was held without notice,” she added. – May 15, 2017.