Bersih raising funds to continue pushing for reforms

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, Bersih 2.0, has kicked off a fund to raise RM1.4 million to help it continue pushing for its reforms agenda.

Its chairperson Thomas Fann said the fund would be used for various programmes until the end of next year, as well as for staffing and office operations.

Bersih has outlined six programmes - electoral reform, parliamentary reform, election monitoring and observation, restoration of local government elections, civic education on democracy for university students, and a special project on the forthcoming Sarawak state election.

The cost of these programmes is estimated at RM640,000.

Fann said that with the change of government, the reforms have been positive, but this was only the beginning, as the efforts were becoming strenuous.

"Reforms were very positive, but I also anticipate more challenging tasks ahead as some reforms require constitutional amendments. And a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which Pakatan Harapan does not have.

"Under the previous government, we were running a marathon and couldn't see the finishing line. With the change of government, we can see the potential, but we are not there yet," he said at a media conference in Petaling Jaya.

Fann (photo) stressed that Bersih wants to see solid reforms, where the future prime ministers of the country would not be able to reverse them.

Two amendment bills for electoral reform

For the electoral reform programme, Bersih will prepare two amendment bills which are to provide for the independence of the Election Commission, and for the Election Offences Act to be updated.

Bersih will also advocate the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform; a new delineation process to rectify malapportionment and gerrymandering, as well as improving postal voting rights for outstation voters.

Bersih is also fighting to bring back local government elections by kick-starting a national campaign, and conducting research.

As for the special project on the Sarawak state election, Bersih aims to register 4,000 new voters within two years and conduct workshops to educate the local voters.

Reminding Harapan of its promises

Bersih will also continue to remind the Harapan government of its election promises, many of which are in line with the principles Bersih has been highlighting since its inception 13 years ago, Fann said.

"Many of Bersih's demands can be found in the Harapan election manifesto, such as the promise to strengthen the institutions and limit the tenure for the prime minister to two terms.

"We want to strengthen the institutions by making them independent. We have been demanding this for years," he said.

Fann also appealed to the opposition to support constitutional reforms.

"I want to appeal to the opposition that they have a great opportunity to put in place something sustainable by supporting constitutional reforms," he said.

To raise funds for its programmes, Bersih is organising a fundraising dinner at Armada Hotel on July 20.

Those who are expected to be present are national laureate A Samad Said, former Institutional Reform Committee (IRC) member S Ambiga, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, cartoonist Zunar and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

The price of the dinner ticket will be RM1,000 per seat or RM10,000 per table.

Bersih is also welcoming donations, which can be made through its Maybank account 512295102931 (Bersih & Adil Network Sdn Bhd).

"I appeal to the people. Without their support, we would not have been able to carry out the work we have done in the past. We need their continuous support to help us secure the reforms so that our Constitution will be strong," Fann said.

For more information, visit www.bersih.org/fundraising. 

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