Deliver reforms by June or we may be back on the streets - Ambiga

If the Pakatan Harapan government does not implement certain key reforms by June this year, former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the people will “go to the streets” again.

“Some of these are already drafted, if these things can’t be pushed through (by) June, it is a total failure of Pakatan Harapan’s commitment to reform.

“Reluctantly, we never thought we would have to go to the streets in relation to this government, but if it has to be done, it has to be done.

“This is not because of the government, this is because of the people,” Ambiga (photo) said to reporters after speaking at a forum titled ‘Institutional Reform Committee (IRC) Report: Why the Secrecy?’ in Kuala Lumpur today.

Among the priority reforms, she said, were the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and the death penalty issue.

“They said it is coming out in March but given the history of u-turns, we are very concerned,” said Ambiga, who was one of the committee members on the IRC.

Ambiga said if the reforms do not happen, people would seriously consider going to the streets again, albeit reluctantly.

“But we have no choice because, for me, they really need to get their act together this year, on many of these things.

“I am not saying they haven’t done good things, they have done many good things.

“But my fear is time is running out and if they do not deliver some of the key promises, then to me, there’s very little time left, because come next year everyone’s concentrating on the next election,” she said. - Mkini