The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) will convene a national congress featuring civil society leaders, youth activists, and student groups this Saturday to deliberate on joint reform demands and strategies to agitate for real change.
Why are we organising the Bersih Congress at this time?
First, there is a need for civil society and youth activists to remobilise and resuscitate public demand for change. We cannot rely solely on politicians and political parties to carry on the reform agenda.
Second, the gathering serves as a wakeup call for the Unity Government to fulfil their reform promises. Civil society, youth, and the public must fight against the collective amnesia by some political elites who seem to have forgotten their reformist rhetoric.
Third, the congress will provide a platform for NGOs, students, and the public to debate key national issues and vote on motions proposed by the floor to formulate a joint declaration to the government.
Members of the public who feel strongly about the reform agenda are encouraged to attend and participate in this experiment of direct democracy. The Bersih Congress will take place on May 25, 2024, at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH). Registration and more information can be found at the link https://mk.my/BERSIH_fg.
In addition, Bersih Congress will feature leading activists and intellectuals who will share their insights on the political landscape and reform prospects.
Speakers include:
Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, BERSIH chairperson who will provide a policy speech on the state of reform agenda.
Wong Yan Ke, Deputy Chairperson of BERSIH, who will be presenting on organising movements.
Dato Ambiga Sreenevasan, Former Chair of the Institutional Reform Committee, will make a public appearance and share on the state of institutional reform today.
Professor Syed Farid Alatas, Sociologist, National University of Singapore (NUS), who popularised the term “kleptocracy”, will share whether the country has done enough to build resilience against institutional abuse.
Ooi Kok Hin, Executive Director of BERSIH, will provide a verdict on the Unity Government's performance on electoral reforms.
Ahmad Fahmi Samsudin, President of ABIM, will share on how Islamic movements can coexist with and facilitate the reform agenda.
Dato’ Hussamuddin, chief of Rasuah Busters, will be sharing anti-corruption advocacy.
Sri Murniati Yusuf, COO & Senior Research Director from IDEAS, will be speaking on lessons learned from advocacy at the highest political level.
Aaliyah Danial, Chairwoman of Congress IIUM & Women Representative of IIUM Student Union, will share the youth' hopes and aspirations for Malaysian democracy.
To close, Bersih invites all parties, especially civil society organisations, students and the public, to attend and participate in this congress. Journalists and international organisations are also invited to attend as observers. We hope to see fellow Malaysians this Saturday at KLSCAH to consolidate our country's democracy and push for real reforms.
Demanding Reform, Strengthening Democracy!
This article is provided by BERSIH.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Interested in having your press releases, exclusive interviews, or branded content articles on Malaysiakini? For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected].
