Bersih in new push to boost voter turnout

By Melissa Chi

January 17, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan launched today the Jom 100 campaign to reach out to eligible voters nationwide and advocate the importance of being registered as well as to turn up to vote in the next general election.

“Jom 100 is in our view necessary. It is aimed at increasing voter turnout for the 13th general election.

Ambiga urged overseas voters to return home and exercise their right to vote in the next general election. — File pic

“We want to educate voters on their rights, on their responsibilities as voters and we want to impress on them the importance of coming out to vote,” the Bersih 2.0 chairman told reporters at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here.

The prominent lawyer said the nationwide roadshow will kick off after the Chinese New Year celebrations, starting in east Malaysia.

She pointed out that more than three million eligible voters are not registered yet, and that is not acceptable.

The former Malaysian Bar Council president stressed that a 100 per cent voter turnout strengthens democracy.

“Each vote counts. We think large numbers coming out can mitigate the effects of negative influences on the elections,” she said.

Ambiga also called on overseas voters to return home and exercise their right to vote in the next elections.

“If the EC does not make arrangements, and they still can make arrangements for overseas voters to vote overseas, I call on the overseas voters to come home.

“Once the elections are announced, come home and vote; I’m sure they can make some arrangements with the airlines to give them cheap flights,” she said.

The vocal human rights activist said Bersih 2.0 was disappointed with the results from the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms but said it would still wait for its final report.

“We welcome indelible ink but that is only one of our eight demands.

“Ultimately, if they are not fulfilled before the next general election, do not rule out Bersih 3.0 because quite frankly if they do not fulfil those recommendations, it means they have no respect for the people, it means they have not respect for the PSC, it means they have no respect for Parliament,” she said.

Ambiga also announced that National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said will be Bersih 2.0’s co-chairman in a move to add weight to the electoral reform coalition’s fight for fair and clean elections.

Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) president Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab was also named as one of the steering committee members.