Bersih's 8 demands will work for BN too

PAS said Barisan Nasional's acceptance of the eight demands on electoral reforms by Bersih would work in their favour should they be beaten in the 13th general election.

“Barisan Nasional will appreciate its importance (the demands) in the 14th general election should they lose the coming 13th general election,” said information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Tuan Ibrahim gave the assurance that in the event Pakatan Rakyat forms the Federal government, it would ensure that the demands were realised.

“This is to ensure that we compete on a level playing field with the opposition," added the Pahang PAS commissioner.

Tuan Ibrahim said the clamour for reforms had largely been achieved by some 60 percent, but the remaining 40 percent would need the people's full participation.

Praising the courage of Bersih committee members despite the current police witch hunt, Bersih, he said, was now widely known throughout the country thanks to the traditional media's excessive publicity.

“Bersih 2.0 has achieved 60 percent of its objective – with the people today aware of its existence, but all these will be meaningless if the attendance at the rally in the stadium does not overflow,” he warned, referring to the July 9 rally which at press time had yet to find a venue after Stadium Merdeka's management rejected its application.

'Don't be sad'

Tuan Ibrahim also has these words to calm a section of Bersih supporters who had expressed disappointment with the coalition's decision to 'compromise' with the authorities.

“From being declared as an illegal coalition by the Home Ministry which ordered the police to use draconian laws such as Emergency Ordinance 1966, to now being granted a royal audience, the people should feel proud with the diligence of the activists of Bersih 2.0 in fearlessly pursuing its agenda.

"To those Bersih 2.0 supporters who are disappointed with the compromise, don’t doubt the committee as they have done their best for the people,” said Tuan Ibrahim, and repeated the reminder for all PAS members to attend the rally.

However, he cautioned Pakatan Rakyat parties not to take the people’s support for Bersih for granted.

“The people support Bersih 2.0 solely to make sure their votes are not offset illegally by phantom voters or unverified postal votes, as well as to ensure they are allowed to make an informed decision," he stressed.

“The people who supported Bersih 2.0 will not vote for us if we perform poorly and failed to instil confidence in our ability to govern," he warned.

Bersih, a coalition of more than sixty non-governmental organisations, is calling on the Election Commission for a total reform of the controversial postal votes, the use of indelible ink and a minimum campaign period of 21 days. It also wants an open-minded mainstream and broadcast media, reform of public institutions including the police and Attorney General's Chambers, eradication of corruption and vote buying practices, and a stop to "gutter politics".

The intense crackdown by police on rally supporters, leading to the arrest of close to 200 people mostly for wearing the Bersih T-shirts, prompted a statement by the Agong on July 3 urging all parties to go to the negotiation table. This was followed by a decision to accept the prime minister's offer to have it in a stadium.

The decision is believed to be taken following threats of violence on participants, as well as an attempt to orchestrate a riot by Perkasa with a view to put the blame on Bersih.

Such a suspicion was fuelled by the police's claim that Molotov cocktails, weapons stashed together with Bersih T-shirts had been discovered at several spots in the city centre.

- Harakahdaily