Bersih 3.0 spirit flows abroad

The spirit of the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur has crossed time zones, with thousands of people pouring onto streets in Australia and New Zealand to march together with up to 100,000 of their brethren in Malaysia.

Malaysians in 35 countries and 85 cities worldwide, have vowed to "stand in solidarity" with the scores of thousands of people who started gathered from morning at various points around Dataran Merdeka for the sit-in slated to being at 2pm today.

According to netizens, more than 1,200 supporters have assembled at the St Paul's Court, Federation Square in Melbourne, while hundreds more are reported to have gathered at Martin's Place in Sydney in eastern Australian by 2pm Malaysian time.

The rally in Melbourne was abuzz with music performances and speeches from left-wing politicians.

"The Malaysian diaspora is not allowed to vote in the Malaysian elections. Only government officers posted abroad and full-time students and army officers abroad are allowed to vote," Melbourne Global Bersih coordinator David Teoh said in an interview with ABC Radio two days ago.

A concurrent show of force was also seen in Brisbane, Hobart and Canberra in Australia, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand.

The sit-in at Aotea Square in Aukland at 1pm Malaysian time began with supporters singing the national anthem Negara-ku.

In Hong Kong (pictures above), some 400 supporters gathered at the Sogo Department Store at Causeway Bay and began making their way to the Malaysian consulate office.

However, Malaysians in Singapore took their protest to the seafront off Johor Baru Waterfront City at 1.30pm, as the Singaporean authorities have denied them a police permit for the rally at the republic's Hong Lim Park.

Picnic-style gatherings are scheduled to take place in the United States and Canada later today.

[More to follow]