Bersih
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections or Bersih (which means "clean" in Malay) is a coalition of non-governmental organisations with the aim of revising the current electoral system to ensure fair elections in Malaysia.
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[edit] 2007 Bersih rally
On Saturday 10 November 2007, a rally organized by Bersih took place in the area of Kuala Lumpur around Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and Istana Negara (The National Palace) without permits. The 'illegal' rally was dispersed by Malaysian riot police with tear gas and chemical bursts. 13 men and two women were arrested and no policemen were injured.
Following the initial rally, Bersih indicated it may hold another street demonstration if government extended the tenure of Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman. On 20 November 2007, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz tabled a first reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2007 that sought to extend the retirement age of members of Election Commission (EC) from 65 to 66. Parliament passed legislation on 11 December to increase EC members' retirement age from 65 to 66.[1]
[edit] 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally
Following the developments, Bersih scheduled a second street demonstration for 9 July 2011, ahead of the anticipated 2012 national Malaysian elections. Plans for the demonstration were extensively criticised by the government and pro-government media, and the police arrested a number of Bersih supporters in the lead-up to the event. After being granted an audience with the King to discuss the issue, Bersih subsequently agreed on 5 July 2011 to move the rally from the streets to a stadium.[2][3]
[edit] Bersih member organizations
Some of the component organizations that form Bersih are:
Non Government Organizations:
- Aliran Kesedaran Rakyat (The Peoples Flow of Awareness)
- All-Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
- Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) (Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement)
- Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
- Citizens’ Health Initiative
- Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH)
- Community Action Network
- ERA Consumer Malaysia (ERACON)
- Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam SeMalaysia (Coalition of Muslim Students Malaysia)
- Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
- Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) (Oppressed Citizens Network)
- Labour Resource Centre (LRC)
- Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)
- Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
- Malaysian Voters Union (MALVU)
- National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
- Pusat Janadaya (Janadaya Center)
- Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (The Center for Social Communication)
- Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
- Save Ourselves (SOS Penang)
- Bersih Kuala Lumpur (BSKL)
- Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (Students Solidarity Malaysia)
- Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Voice of the People, Malaysia)
- Tamil Foundation
- Unit Pemikiran Politik, (Political Thinktank Unit)
- Kuala Lumpur Drum Corps (KLDC)
- Women’s Development Collective (WDC)
- Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
[edit] References
- ^ Malaysia: Bersih May Stage Another Protest | My Sinchew
- ^ Lee, Yen Mun (5 July 2011). "Bersih’s Ambiga: No street march, rally will be held in stadium". The Star. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/7/5/nation/20110705160353&sec=nation. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ Gan, Yen Kuan; Ten Kate, Daniel (5 July 2011). "Malaysia Street Protests Averted as Group Agrees to Use Stadium". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-05/malaysia-street-protests-averted-as-group-agrees-to-use-stadium.html. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
