Sunday, July 10

Baharudin Ahmad: 500 attend Bersih rally supporter's burial

The late Baharudin Ahmad, who passed away in the midst of yesterday's police assault on the Bersih 2.0 rally in the heart of Kuala Lumpur yesterday, was buried at 12.55pm today at Lembah Keramat Muslim cemetery in Taman Seri Keramat Tengah, Kuala Lumpur.

funeral baharudin crowdIt was reported that up to 500 mourners accompanied the funeral procession to the cemetery.

Baharudin, 58, was reportedly with his family at the KLCC leg of the Bersih gathering yesterday when he collapsed after being hit with tear gas that was being fired by the riot police to quell the rally.

He was rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) and was declared dead shortly after.

The police have claimed that Baharudin had suffered a heart attack and denied that he had died from exposure to tear gas.

Baharudin was a PAS member, his wife, Rusni Melan, is PKR Wanita Setiawangsa branch chief.

Cops interrupt procession

Roughly 500 mourners followed the funeral procession to the burial grounds, including NGO members and Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 leaders.

funeral baharudin vanAmongst them were PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar, Hulu Kelang rep Shaari Sungib and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chairperson Badrul Hisham Shahrin.

Prayers and chants of “Allahu akbar” punctuated the duration of the procession.

Along the way three police cars on separate occasions interrupted, and the mourners responded chanting “Allahu akbar” to the cops.

Earlier, many Pakatan and Bersih leaders paid their respects at Surau Al-Muqarrabin close to the deceased's home in Keramat, Kuala Lumpur as early as 9am.

funeral baharudin bersihPKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and daughter and PKR veep Nurul Izzah Anwar, PAS deputy Mohamad Sabu and VPs Husam Musa, Mahfuz Omar and Bersih 2.0 chair S Ambiga were amongst those present.

The surau was packed when the body was being bathed and prepared for burial, with PKR exco member Badrol Amin Baharon leading the prayers.

The many leaders present were visibly saddened and some were visibly emotional.

In particular Ambiga and Nurul Izzah (below, left and right with Rusni, centre) with wept as they consoled the widow Rusni.

nurul izzah, funeral baharudin“This should not have happened. He (Baharudin) is a hero,” said Ambiga briefly before tears overwhelmed her.

Meanwhile fellow Bersih leader Maria Chin Abdullah added, “Bersih regrets that this has happened. It shows that the police do not respect the rakyat.”

“The rakyat had the right to be there (at the rally),” she said, choked with tears and unable to continue.

The heavy-handed police action to stop the protestors yesterday were also a talking point during the funeral.

NONESpeaking to reporters after the burial, PKR Wanita VP Gan Pei Nei condemned the police action in particular firing tear gas into Tung Shin hospital at Jln Pudu.

Gan, who is also Rawang assemblyperson, claimed that she was in the hospital compound when the incident took place and witnessed it.

She called on members of the public who had photos of the incident to contact Bersih 2.0 or Pakatan personnel.

Meanwhile Mahfuz and Salahudin Ayub said they were lodging a police report on their detention.

Their lawyers, they said, will attempt to seek redress.

VIDEO | 8.07 mins

No comments: