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BERSIH 2.0 Launched

“If no one listens to us, we know where to go and make noise!” — Ambiga Sreenevasan

To mark the third anniversary of a mega rally demanding electoral reforms, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections has reincarnated itself as “Bersih 2.0”.

Bersih (or ‘clean’ in English) was responsible for organising a rally on Nov 10, 2007 which saw tens of thousands yellow-clad protestors flooding Kuala Lumpur to accompany the movement’s leaders in submitting a petition for electoral reforms to the King.

This time round, Bersih 2.0 will headed entirely by civil society instead of politicians, but similarly warns that street protests are on the cards if diplomacy with the Election Commission collapses.

“We believe in dialogue but if diplomacy fails to bring reasonable change and no one is listening, I can assure you, we know what to do.

“We know where to go and make noise. We know how to do it loudly,” warned former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan who now helms Bersih 2.0, during the its launch last night.

11 Demands Listed

During her speech, Ambiga listed down Bersih 2.0’s 11 demands for electoral reforms, two of which are new:

1. Complete revision of the electoral roll.
2. Use of indelible ink in elections.
3. Reform of postal voting.
4. Free and fair media access for all contesting parties.
5. Minimum campaign period of 21 days.
6. Fair and professional constituency redelineation.
7. Automatic registration of all eligible voters.
8. Reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 years old.
9. Reform in electoral financing rules to ensure transparency.
10. Administrative neutrality of all levels of governments.
11. Affirming the political right of all students of 18 years and above.

This is the first time that the movement is demanding better scrutiny of elections financing and a reduction in the voting age.

Ambiga pointed out that Malaysia is behind other countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Timor Leste where the voting age is 18 and Indonesia has gone as low as 17.

Read more here.

WATCH VIDEOS: Launch of Bersih 2.0 Unite and Advance Electoral Reform held on 10 Nov 2010 at MBPJ Civic Centre, PJ, Malaysia.

Part 1: Welcome by Emcee Fahmi Fadzil and Bah Tony introduces the Jahai community from Grik, Perak who performed a community dance performance of celebration.

Part 2: Stand Up Comedy by Hisham Rais (aka Tukar Tiub)

Part 3: Speeches by Malaysians on their hopes and aspirations for electoral reform:
i. Dato’ Dr Ronald McCoy – Past President of the Malaysian Medical Association
ii. Mr Lim Chee Wee – Vice President of the Malaysian Bar
iii. Sdr Hilman Idham – UKM student who was arrested for allegedly campaigning during the Hulu Selangor by-election in 2010
iv. Aziman b Mohd Yunus – 18-year-old student

Part 4: Continuation: Speeches by Malaysians on their hopes and aspirations for electoral reform:
v. Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan – Past President of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO)

Part 5: Speech by Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, MP for Kuala Selangor and representative of Bersih steering committee

Part 6: Continuation: Speech by Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, MP for Kuala Selangor and representative of Bersih steering committee, gives a speech.

Part 7: Speech by Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairperson of Bersih 2.0 and former Bar Council president

Part 8: Continuation: Speech by Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, Chairperson of Bersih 2.0 and Former Bar Council President

Part 9: Performance by Tugu Drum Circle, led by Paul Lau

Part 10: Continuation: Performance by Tugu Drum Circle and friends of Bersih 2.0

(Sorry, last bit missing, ran out of memory card!)

Related Articles:

• Poskod Malaysia: BERSIH 2.0 Launch!

With love from Pahlawan Volunteers
“Negara Kita, Tanggungjawab Kita
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Pictorial of a great idea, an initiative to lend a hand to the under-privileged where anyone can contribute according to their means, discovered in front of Village Grocers supermarket at Bangsar Village 2, Kuala Lumpur…

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