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WILL THERE BE BERSIH 4.0 IN 2013?

Free Malaysia Today

‘No Bersih 4.0 rally this year’

Maria Chin Abdullah dismisses talk of a Bersih 4.0 rally this year and says their objections may not be in the form of street demonstration.

PETALING JAYA: Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah has dispelled rumour of an upcoming Bersih 4.0 rally, saying it would not be anytime soon, and may not be in the form of a street demonstration.

Maria was responding to talk on the street that another street rally was imminent, as many had begun selling Bersih 4.0 T-shirts around the nation.

“No, I don’t think we are having a rally this year. Also, Bersih 4.0 need not be a rally, but just people moving towards reform,” she told FMT.

She said that those selling T-shirts were not related to the movement, but those who expressed support for those who want change.

“They are not related to us, but this shows people are excited and enthusiastic to wear the Bersih 4.0 shirt,” she said, adding that the shirts were being sold around the world.

“This shows enthusiasm and that the movement is picking up. It is a good spirit,” she added.

‘No Bersih 4.0 rally this year’

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Some have suggested Bersih 4.0 but on 29 May 2013,

Ambiga was reported to have said, “Not yet….”

Today, 14 June 2013, Ambiga still says, “Our fight for electoral reform will continue. Our People’s Tribunal will proceed.”

However, she also adds that taking to the streets could be the only way left to fight for polls reform should its campaign to clean up the election system through legal channels fail.

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Malaysian Insider

Street protests may be only way to push for polls reform, says Ambiga

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
June 14, 2013

Ambiga says the EC no longer enjoys public confidence. KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Polls reform group Bersih 2.0 has conceded that taking to the streets could be the only way left to fight for polls reform should its campaign to clean up the election system through legal channels fail.

Co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the group, however, will first use its “People’s Tribunal” as the chief platform to “scrutinise” the allegations of fraud committed in Election 2013 where its findings will be the basis for its advocacy work for polls reform.

“We will go with the tribunal first. Depending on the findings we will push for relevant reform. If that fails then a protest may be the only option,” she told The Malaysian Insider.

Ambiga had previously said that the “people’s tribunal” will serve as a “moral force” to investigate and publicly expose alleged fraud in the May 5 general election.

The tribunal and its findings will also underpin its fight for the resignation of all the present Election Commission (EC) line-up following accusations of bias. Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have also made this a key condition to bilateral talks on polls reform.

But the Najib administration’s insistence on the EC’s independence means it is unlikely to agree to the condition. The EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof, has also said that the commission will not bow down to pressure.

The impasse could well force Bersih and the opposition to resort to street protests as a last recourse.

Street protests may be only way to push for polls reform, says Ambiga

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Malaysiakini

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) has denied claims that they are behind the proposed Bersih 4.0 rally.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat told The Malay Mail the coalition had no plans to organise the rally and would instead focus on setting up the people’s tribunal to investigate alleged electoral fraud and irregularities during the recent general election.

malaysiakini.com ‏@malaysiakini 23h

Bersih: We are not behind Bersih 4.0 rally http://dlvr.it/3RP9Qg

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Malay Mail

PAKATAN RAKYAT is planning a mammoth street protest next for electoral reforms, raising questions among various quarters as to whether such demonstrations would ever end.

Claiming that the people would even want to go beyond protest, Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hopes that taking to the streets once again would rejuvenate the opposition following its setback in the general election.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu had said about a million people were expected to join the next Bersih rally in protest if Putrajaya did not implement immediate electoral reforms.

He pledged his party’s commitment to organising the next Bersih rally, saying it would be necessary if the government did not initiate proper polls reforms before the next general election.

PR may hold ‘mammoth’ street protest

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Malaysiakini

A coalition of NGOs has warned that unless the Election Commission (EC) heads step down or are fired for alleged electoral fraud, the people will take to the streets.

Following the ninth Black 505 ‘People’s Gathering’ in Petaling Jaya last Saturday, the organisers, of which  Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) is one, said the rally marks “only the beginning”.

“We are giving a final warning from the people that they are prepared to walk peacefully, if the EC (chiefs) are still not fired or if they do not step down.

“The people are now prepared to take to the streets anytime starting now, for the sake of our democracy that has been blackened,” the Suara Rakyat 505 coalition said n a statement today.

The group said there was only one answer acceptable to “all the fraud that has taken place in the May 5 general election”, and that is for those responsible in the EC to step down before steps to restore democracy and before any further elections take place.

The group also called on 500,000 volunteers to march to the EC’s office to call for the resignation of the EC heads by registering at their website.

“The registration will also be considered a statement of the people to call for all the highest leaders of the EC to resign,” said the group.

We will march if EC heads do not resign, say NGOs

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