Bersih remains outlawed, says home minister

Despite the recent government pledge to make Malaysia the "world's best democracy", it sees no reason to lift the ban on the electoral reform movement Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0).

In a written reply to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Bersih was declared illegal under Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966 as it had "actively moved to create public unrest".

Hishammuddin said Bersih had tried to do so by:

• Spreading propaganda to incite the rakyat to topple government by the distribution of certain printed materials.

• Carried out activities deemed negative to the image of the country, which could also threaten public order and safety as well as the nation's economic prosperity and sovereignty.

"Therefore, Bersih remains an illegal organisation," said Hishammuddin, adding that its status was unaffected by the formation of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform.

The PSC was established yesterday, with nine MPs appointed to sit on the committee - five from BN, three from Pakatan Rakyat and an Independent.

Representing BN in the committee, which is to be chaired by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili, are Alexander Nanta Linggi, Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Dr Fong Chan Onn and P Kamalanathan.

Representing the opposition are Azmin Ali (PKR), Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS) and Anthony Loke (DAP), while the sole Independent MP is Wangsa Maju's Wee Choo Keong.