BERSIH TRIBUNAL Having foreigners on the people’s tribunal investigating claims of fraud during GE13 does not amount to meddling in local affairs, Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.

“This is not meddling. These are distinguished people,” Ambiga told reporters on the sidelines of the tribunal today.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail had previously questioned the presence of foreigners on the panel.

Former Indonesian Election Commission deputy chief Ramlan Surbakti and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) constitutional expert Yash Phal Ghai are the two non-Malaysians on the five-member panel.

Yash is chairing the panel.

Ambiga said that it was a “pity” that those who are critical of the tribunal do not come and evaluate the tribunal themselves.

“Pity they don’t come and observe it. If you come here, then you can see the value of this tribunal,” she said.

She admitted that the tribunal was not set up pursuant to any laws in the country, but noted that this was not the first time such a tribunal was taking place.

“This is not happening for the first time. People have done it all over the world. It is a forum for people to come and give evidence,” she said.

“The positive part of this tribunal is that people who have grievances (about the election) can come and voice themselves,” she further added.

The five-day tribunal is sitting for the second day today at a hotel in Subang Jaya.

Both the ruling BN party and the Election Commission have so far refused to participate in the tribunal.

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