PAS pledges 100,000 members for Bersih 2.0

Opposition party PAS has pledged to mobilise 100,000 of its members for the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for July 9 to push for free and fair elections.

"At least 100,000 thousand PAS members will come down for the rally," said party central working committee member Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, the Islamic party's representative for the event launch tonight.

Syed Azman (right) also pledged PAS' support for the movement, although he was quick to add that Bersih does not belong to any political party but to the rakyat.

PAS members are known for their discipline and they often make up significant numbers in many opposition and civil society movements and rallies because of the party's ability to mobilise mass support.

PAS also operates the much praised Unit Amal or volunteer corps that is experienced in maintaining order during demonstrations and providing logistical support.

Syed Azman was one of the several allied representatives and Bersih 2.0 steering committee members who spoke during the launch tonight of the event and its eight point agenda.

Gov't hasn't gotten the message

About 60 other NGOs, civil society groups and political parties have pledged their numbers and support for the mega-rally.

The first Bersih rally in Nov 2007 (right) saw roughly 40,000 people take to the streets to press the government for electoral reforms.

However as Bersih 2.0 chief S Ambiga pointed out in her speech during the launch, they saw that the government had implemented practically none of their demanded reforms.

Their inaction, she said, is what has prompted them to resurrect the rally bigger than before.

"To be fair to the Election Commission (EC), they did engage with us, they tried to implement change.

“But we are telling them, it is not enough. The proof (of the EC's failure and the pressing need for reforms) was during the Sarawak elections. This is why Bersih 2.0 must happen."

Despite the rally gathering momentum, the government has refused to grant a permit for the rally, calling it "an illegal gathering" and promising stern action including preventive arrests against those responsible.

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- Malaysiakini