What began as a march to gather Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur to march for fair and free elections has now turned into a march of international proportions.
Never in the wildest thoughts of Bersih organising chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan did she ever imagine that Bersih 2.0 would go global, involving Malaysians in Korea, Japan, Australia and the US.
Sister marches have now been planned and will run concurrently with the one in Kuala Lumpur giving the Bersih 2.0 worldwide attention to the sad plight of elections in Malaysia.
And proudly - these marches will be led by Malaysians themselves, still loyal to their motherland although forced to seek employment and opportunities in other nations due to a corrupt government that has failed its people miserably.
Malaysians have awoken and regardless as to how the UMNO-BN government brands them, the Malaysian diaspora still watches with interest the going-on in their home country.
No doubt, they would have seen how racist individuals such as Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa have been sheltered in making blatant racist comments and threats to the Chinese.
They would have shaken their heads at the inaction of the Home Minister and the police in roping in subversive elements, who threaten the very fabric of national unity.
They would have taken note of the bastardisation of the judiciary, where rule of law is now divided into camps of for and against the UMNO-BN. And where punishment is 10-folds heavier on those that oppose UMNO-BN and lighter or even non-existent for those within the protection of the ruling elite.
No doubt they would have heard the stories of how the Election Commission is merely a tool for the ruling establishment to maintain their hold on power. Indeed they would have heard the EC’s reasoning that if the elections were not fair and free, the opposition would not have won seats in the last 2008 elections.
A fallacy and TalentCorp
The EC is wrong. If the elections were free and fair, the opposition would have formed government and Malaysia may have not made the disastrous slide it has made so far under the leadership of Najib Razak.
The overseas Malaysian would surely gape in amazement at how the Malaysian economy has slid as far as it has now. At how inflation is rising, yet the wages of the normal everyday workers remain basically unchanged. At how the BN is effectively making the people poor with its poor management of public funds.
The overseas Malaysians are not dis-loyal to their country of birth. Instead, they have taken measures to protect and ensure the future of their families by seeking better opportunities elsewhere.
If they are traitors, as people like Ibrahim Ali are bound to claim, why would Prime Minister Najib Razak set up TalentCorp to entice them home? And this is why TalentCorp will fail. Not for meaningless self-serving personalities like Ibrahim, but because there is no serious intent in righting the wrongs that made the talented and the gifted flee Malaysia in the first place.
As educated and smart people, they ply their trade where it is most appreciated and are rewarded for their diligence and hard work. Without doubt, many look after the welfare of those they have had to leave behind in Malaysia. And with this in mind, to ensure that those left behind are not victimized by a totalitarian regime, some have chosen to make a stand for a better way of choosing government.
The Malaysian overseas community has chosen to make a stand and to march with their breathen in the followng venues. To show the government of Najib Razak, that they still love, yearn and have hope for their motherland.
For the Bersih 2.0 is not merely for the people of today, but rather, sets the path right for the children who come after us.
World march
The Bersih 2.0 will happen at the following times in the following locations:
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3pm Venue: Malaysian High Commission, 4-1 Hannam-dong, 140-210, Seoul
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 12.00pm Venue: Malaysian Consulate in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney (simultaneous)
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3.00pm Venue: Tower of the Sun, Osaka
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia,550 South Hope
Street,Suite 400, Los Angeles
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 9.30am Venue: Chrissy Field Picnic Area, Presidio, San Francisco
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia, 313 East 43rd Street, New York
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the 8 reforms drawn up and demanded on behalf of Malaysians by the the Bersih steering committee:
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.
In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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