By Toh Kin Woon
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — In recent weeks, many negative, unfair and unreasonable statements have been made against Bersih 2.0. Some of these bordered on vicious personal attacks, in particular against its Chairperson, the highly respected Ambiga Sreenevasan. These attacks arose following the announcement by, and firm commitment of, the entire Steering Committee to hold a peaceful walk to demand for electoral reform and upholding of democracy on 9 July. As a member of Bersih 2.0’s Steering Committee, I feel duty bound to come to its defence.

Allow me first to reiterate the overall objective of our coalition, which is to help the Election Commission realise its noble goal of conducting elections that are fair and clean. All will agree that the attainment of this goal is a must, if Malaysia is to be a fully developed country. Apart from high income, a just and democratic electoral system is an important institution of a first world country. Read the rest of this entry »

Malaysiakini | Jun 21, 11

A staggering 99 percent of slightly more than one million respondents in a poll by The Star Online have indicated support for the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.

The actual number of respondents cannot be confirmed as the poll was taken down about noon today.

According to a screen capture taken by a Facebook user, the number of respondents had hit 1.3 million at 12.25pm from 527,330 recorded at 6.11am today, according to a Google Cache snapshot of the website.

To the question ‘What is your view on the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9?’, 1,312,917 respondents answered ‘It should be allowed to go on’ as at 12.25pm.

The other option – ‘It should be cancelled’ – was selected by 14,222 respondents.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Ambiga Sreenevasan
June 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 21 — We thank the EC for the invitation but the time for talk and discussion has passed. This is due to the reports of blatant abuses of power in the recent Sarawak election and in view of the impending General Elections.

The EC’s continued assertions that they have no power to act in the face of such abuses and the information that the suggestions they have made to the Government for reform have met with no success gives us little hope in further discussion. Read the rest of this entry »

I would like to call on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Cabinet Ministers and leaders of all Barisan Nasional component parties to come forward to join in the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 to support the civil society initiative for free and fair elections.

Let July 9 be a historic day in Malaysia to celebrate the coming-of-age of 54 years of parliamentary democracy where political parties, both ruling and opposition, together with the civil society, can come together to address the major defects of our democratic system of governance – the many serious flaws of the electoral system failing to give real meaning to the principle of “one person, one vote, one value”; a clean, free and fair election process and elected government hich commands unquestioned credibility, legitimacy and authority.

I am sure representatives from Barisan Nasional parties would be welcomed to join the Bersih 2.0 steering committee to ensure that the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally will be an event all Malaysians regardless of political affiliation would feel proud as a Malaysian. Read the rest of this entry »

Malaysiakini Your Say | Jun 21, 11 9:09am

‘The EC under your watch has been arrogant and blatantly partisan and refused to even look at the mountains of evidence of widespread electoral fraud.’

EC prepared to meet Bersih if it scraps rally

Anak Bangsa Malaysia: Too little, too late, Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusof. Only when faced by the unstoppable wrath of the people do you even give the impression of getting off your high horse.

The EC under your watch has been arrogant and blatantly partisan. You refused to even look at the mountains of evidence collected by multiple parties showing widespread electoral fraud – not just in the recent Sarawak state elections but also in numerous previous by-elections.
Read the rest of this entry »

Hafiz Yatim | Jun 20, 11 6:36pm
Malaysiakini

The Coalition for a Free and Fair Election (Bersih 2.0) movement will proceed with its march on July 9 despite attempts by the Election Commission (EC) dissuade them from proceeding by offering a dialogue.

Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan (right) said the movement’s representatives have already met the EC with its proposals for electoral reform before but there had been no progress.

“We thank the EC for the invitation but the time for talk and discussion has passed. This is due the reports of blatant abuses in the recent elections in Sarawak and in view of the impending general election.

“The EC’s continued assertions that they have no power to act in the face of such abuses and the information that the suggestions they have made to the government for reform have met with no success gives us little hope in further discussion,” she said. Read the rest of this entry »