BY: NAZLI IBRAHIM
KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 29: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah was interrogated daily to pressure her regarding allegations that she received donations from George Soros’ foundation.
Reflecting on her 11-day detention under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), Maria said that she maintained her stand that BERSIH 2.0 did not receive funds from the foundation.
“After two days of detention, I was subjected to what they called an interview daily.
“It was not really an interview but they repeatedly asked me the same question in hopes that I would confess to doing something I did not do,” she said during a speech in front of almost 1,000 BERSIH 2.0 supporters at Merdeka Square on November 28.
Maria said she was also pressured to admit that BERSIH 2.0 was linked to other BERSIH 5 gatherings held overseas or Global BERSIH.
She said the yellow shirt gatherings overseas were not organised by BERSIH 2.0 but were the initiatives of Malaysians living in those countries.
“The action of trying to link Global BERSIH with BERSIH 2.0 is clearly an attempt by the authorities to discredit the rise of Malaysians overseas,” she said.
Maria added that BERSIH 2.0 was alleged to have RM3.2 billion in undeclared funds.
“BERSIH 2.0 has not taken a single sen from Soros Foundation and our accounts are displayed on our website for all to see. But they do not believe it because they think we have RM3.2 billion.
“Who can believe that?” she asked.
BERSIH not connected to Soros
