INTERVIEW Social media made a difference in the Bersih 2.0 rally last weekend and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

NONE "No one can tell lies with the social media pictures and videos. The Internet, together with the social media, is an amazing leveller among people when people from all races and communalities came together on July 9th," said Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan ( left ) in an interview with Malaysiakini .

"The information is out there instantly and no one can deny the number of people showing up at the rally when the pictures and videos speak the truth.

"Bersih 2.0 is a people's movement and that's why there were thousands of people and not 5,000 people as claimed.

"The new media revolution is here to stay and this is a new experience for Malaysians for their voices to be heard, and it is happening here and now.

"Information on the Internet cannot be controlled by anyone as the laws state "Internet shall not be censored."

Bersih difference with Middle East

Today, Ambiga said, the people were getting information instantly and knew from Twitter and alternative news websites what had happened as soon as she was arrested.

Asked if she could compare  the similarites with what happened on July 9 to what was taking place around the world, especially in the Middle East, she said: "No. I can't compare July 9 to the Middle East because there they wanted to topple the leadership, but here we are asking for electoral reforms."

The march on July 9, she explained, had made the citizens want more out of the politicians through clean and fair elections as enshrined in the constitution.

"If you follow the blogs and news sites they keep, the people were informed as things were happening on the streets. There is no doubt the role of social media has earned the respect and it is here to stay.

"The arrival of social media has made us, Bersih 2.0 and the government, accountable to the people. Information is a powerful tool and social media has been making a difference.

Bersih is a true reflection of One Malaysia, Ambiga added.

"There was a united Malaysia on July 9 and it was a rally of all races coming forward to champion their basic human and electoral rights. All we want is a civil society, free and fair elections

"We are not political and we even invited the ruling Barisan Nasional t bersih rally petaling street 090711 o join us in Bersih 2.0. All we are asking for is to reduce fraud and corruption in elections.

"We saw a lot of abuses in the Sarawak elections and we are very worried that this may be carried over to the next 13th general election."

Whether it is opposition or government that is elected, it must be through free, fair and democratically held elections, Ambiga said.

"Despite the police putting up blocks, the Bersih campaign was a great success from the groundswell of people from all corners of Kuala Lumpur and the outskirts. It cannot be denied from the pictures and videos.

"We are upset with the death of one of the marchers and we are getting a lot of footage on how he was treated. We want police brutality to stop immediately, we want a royal commission for clean and free elections, and we want the incidents investigated. At the same time, we want a massive voter registration exercise."

As for the future, she said, Bersih 2.0 would be conducting workshops for members of the public on their rights and how free and fair elections should be conducted.

"We want the people to show support for Bersih 2.0 by wearing yellow on Saturdays and sporting anything in yellow and it can also be a yellow rose," Ambiga added.

Bersih's Ambiga is a tool of the rakyat