Bersih hints of another rally if polls reform fails

The NGO coalition for clean and fair elections may take to the streets again should the authorities fail to implement its recommendations on electoral reform.
Speaking to the media after launching a voter education campaign in Kuala Lumpur today, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said she fears that the authorities will not abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.

“The PSC can come up with their recommendations, but they may not be implemented.

“If they don’t fulfil these recommendations, I don’t rule out another Bersih rally before GE,” she said.
Ambiga led Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 when thousands of people from all walks of life converged in Kuala Lumpur to demand for electoral reforms.

The lawyer also expressed disappointment with the recommendations made in the first PSC report.
She said the use of indelible ink as recommended by the PSC was only “one of the eight (Bersih) demands, despite being ‘a good thing’”.

“I am looking forward to seeing more recommendations in PSC’s  second report,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bersih will also go on a nationwide campaign aimed at achieving a 100 percent voter turnout in the forthcoming election.
The campaign themed 'Jom 100' will kick-start after the Chinese New Year holidays.

“If there is a larger number of voters, it will also mitigate the effects of election fraud and gerrymandering, because there are only so many phantom voters who can vote,” she added.

Ambiga also urged overseas voters to come home to vote as they were denied the right to be registered as absent voters in a legal bid recently.

She added that national laureate A Samad Said will be appointed Bersih co-chairperson and student activist Shukri Abdul Razab as a steering committee member.