Bersih has brushed off concerns over PAS' absence from its Nov 19 rally, saying that it does not need the Islamist party to persuade Malays to take to the streets this year.

Although the racial makeup of Bersih's last rally was affected by PAS sitting out, Bersih deputy chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said “non-PAS Malays” are now filling in the vacuum left by the party.

“If you notice, PAS (crowds) will have women sitting one side, man one side. But when we see a (Bersih) ceramah in Muar, Johor last week, the women are mixing up and are very active in asking questions.

“We have (received) overwhelming response,” he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Also present was Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, who noted that the crowd gathered that day numbered around 400.

Asked whether PAS has less influence, Shahrul said he believed this was the case.

“Yes, yes. We invited them to come but we are not too worried if they don't show up.”

Bersih vice-chairperson Thomas Fann said he regretted that PAS was not joining Bersih 5, but added that he was unperturbed by the decision.

“Nonetheless, we have to recognise that PAS doesn't represent all Malays and (they are) not homogeneous.”

Fann added that Malay support for Bersih is present and hopefully they will turn up during the Bersih 5 rally.

“The response from Malays has been very encouraging.

“Even when we (Bersih convoy) drove through towns and villages, many seeing Bersih gave support by waving and honking on the road.

“The support is there. Whether they will come out - we really do hope it will translate into a good turnout,” he said.

‘Red-shirts repeatedly tried to incite fear’

Meanwhile, Maria noted that the red-shirts had repeatedly tried to incite fear in an attempt to see the Bersih 5 rally and roadshows fail.

She said this in reference to the anti-Bersih movement led by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

“If you see the history of Bersih, it’s nothing new. When we started Bersih 2, the government actually came out doing - almost - the role of Jamal, except there was no violence, they didn’t kick us.

However, Maria said Bersih has had experience in this and is unfazed.

“They branded and demonised us, said we were influenced by Jews and others.

“Then come Bersih 3, they came Bersih 4, of course, they didn’t attack us much but after the rally they came after us, brought us to court and asked for us to pay damages.

“We expect his kind of standard operating procedure from people who want to see our rally fail,” she said.

Maria said, ultimately, Bersih wants leaders to be held accountable and those funnelling money into their personal bank accounts must be answerable to voters.