Bersih organising chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan and five other NGO leaders were summoned to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman, but barely two hours before the 2pm meeting, the cops called it off.
Bersih commitee member Maria Chin Abdullah, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, activist Hishamuddin Rais, Lawyers for Liberty cordinator Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and Party Socialist Malaysia secretary-general S Arutchelvan were to have met the police.
“Meeting with police postponed, so far I don't know when is the new date,” Ambiga said in an SMS to the press.
The six are also asking to meet the police in a group rather than separately. They have request a group appointement for Monday.
"All of us are under investigation, but we not sure what offence we had committed," Maria was reported as telling the press.
Meanwhile, as expected the police are using indiscriminate force to clamp down on the Bersih workers.
At a Bersih roadshow in Shah Alam on Friday night, one of the Bersih workers was arrested along. In Kluang, Johor, the police arrested 7 activists from PSM.
They had been distributing leaftlets on the July 9 rally.
Bersih orgainisers have said the pre-rally roadshows planned across the nation will continue as scheduled.
The mammoth Walk for Democracy is organized by 62 civil rights NGOs. It aims to hand over a memorandum to the King, demanding critical reforms ahead of snap general elections widely expected to be held within the next few months.
The Pakatan Rakyat by led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim supports the rally's anti-election fraud platform.
However, Najib's government opposes it and has roused a host of racial rights groups such as Perkasa and its chief Ibrahim Ali to scare off the crowds. A successful rally is seen as a slap in the face for Najib's leadership.
Malaysian diaspora have expressed support for Bersih 2.0 and plan sister rallies in 8 different cities.
World march
The Bersih 2.0 will happen at the following times in the following locations:
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3pm Venue: Malaysian High Commission, 4-1 Hannam-dong, 140-210, Seoul
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 12.00pm Venue: Malaysian Consulate in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney (simultaneous)
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 3.00pm Venue: Tower of the Sun, Osaka
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia,550 South Hope
Street,Suite 400, Los Angeles
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 9.30am Venue: Chrissy Field Picnic Area, Presidio, San Francisco
Date: 9 July 2011 Time: 10.00am Venue: Consulate General of Malaysia, 313 East 43rd Street, New York
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the 8 reforms drawn up and demanded on behalf of Malaysians by the the Bersih steering committee:
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.
In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
Malaysia Chronicle
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