The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (better known by its Bahasa Malaysia name “BERSIH 2.0”) is a coalition backed by 88 Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with the objective of campaigning for free and fair elections in Malaysia. Clean the electoral roll
2. Reform postal ballot
3. Use of indelible ink
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
5. Free and fair access to media
6. Streng
then public institutions
7. Stop corruption
8. Stop dirty politics
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To date, BERSIH has coordinated two public demonstrations.
****************************Bersih 1*************************
The first demonstration by BERSIH, held in November 2007, saw tens of thousands of ordinary Malaysians take to the streets in support of free and fair elections. In response to this peaceful assembly, the government set up multiple road blocks and altered train schedules to obstruct participants, and fired chemically laced water cannons and tear gas at the unarmed protestors. The demonstration culminated in the Bersih delegation handing over a memorandum, meant for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, at the Istana Negara.
****************************Bersih 2**************************
In July 2011, the coalition (now led wholly by civil society and thus renamed BERSIH 2.0) launched a second demonstration, Bersih 2, to continue the struggle for free and fair elections. Tens of thousands of people gathered in the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, as well as in 38 other cities around the world. Again, the government set up multiple road blocks to obstruct participants, and fired water cannons and tear gas at protestors. The police also arrested over 1,600 people, including event organisers and opposition party leaders. Under pressure from the events of Bersih 2, the Prime Minister set up a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to address the issues raised by BERSIH 2.0. In early April 2012, the PSC report was released, and hastily passed without debate in the Barisan Nasional controlled Dewan Rakyat. Though the PSC report contains some sound recommendations, it falls far short in numerous areas. Many of the recommendations put forth, including the eight demands of BERSIH 2.0, can and should be implemented before the impending 13th General Elections, not after the elections as the report suggests. Additionally, neither the PSC nor the government appears to have taken seriously the many allegations of electoral fraud.
****************************Bersih 3**************************
Wholly unsatisfied with the PSC report, BERSIH 2.0 held the Bersih 3 sit-in (“duduk bantah” in Bahasa Malaysia) on 28 April 2012 across Malaysia and throughout the world. In addition to the demands of the previous Bersih demonstrations, Bersih 3 has three demands, namely:
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1. The Election Commission must resign, as it has failed in its responsibility and has lost the confidence of the public.
2. The electoral process must be cleaned before the 13th General Elections.
3. Invite international observers to observe the 13th General Elections. We will continue our struggle for free and fair elections, assembling and expressing our views peacefully as are our rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
