Bilqis Hijjas, behind the yellow balloon - dance, activism, family

MALAYSIANS KINI Dance activist Bilqis Hijjas, first came to media attention when she was charged with dropping yellow balloons “with intent to insult” on an event that was attended by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

The yellow balloons had been printed with words like ‘Justice’, ‘Media Freedom’ and ‘Democracy’, and were dropped a day after the mammoth 34-hour Bersih 4 rally, calling for clean governance and Najib’s resignation amid corruption investigations.

Charged with Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 with a maximum fine of RM100, Bilqis decided to fight against the charge in the court, as she said it was a matter of principle.