Bersih demands fresh polls if Pakatan collapses, warns of mass rally otherwise

KUALA LUMPUR — Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 will organise another mass rally unless a general election is held in the event the Pakatan Harapan administration collapses.

Chairman Thomas Fann said a backdoor government was undemocratic and tantamount to a betrayal of voters who voted for change.

“The rakyat voted for Pakatan Harapan and its coalition parties based on their promises and policies in their respective manifesto. Such reconfiguration of the component parties mid-term has nullified its election manifesto,” he said during a press conference.

Bersih, supported by 34 other civil rights movements and NGOs, also pleaded with the Malaysian king to consent to the dissolution of Parliament.

The group also demanded that lawmakers who deserted PH to resign immediately, saying they were elected as representatives of the coalition.

“We also call upon all citizens to voice their anger and disappointment, either by expressing it on social media, by writing to their MPs, or even organise peaceful assemblies wherever they are,” Mr Fann said.

When asked for details of what would be the Bersih 6 rally, Mr Fann said the group will decide after observing how authorities respond.

He said it may not be necessary if Parliament is dissolved.

“As for the rally itself, we will have to go through an internal process and seek the consensus among Bersih’s 56 supporting NGOs.

“If it is greenlit, then committees will be formed, messaging will begin along with mobilisation,” Mr Fann said, adding the rally could be organised to take place within a week up to several months, and may involve more than one rally.

A series of political meetings on Sunday among Parti Pribumi Bersatu, Umno, PAS, and PKR factions loyal to then-deputy president Azmin Ali culminated in 131 MPs gathering at the Sheraton Hotel Petaling Jaya for a consensus dinner.

Since then, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has resigned as the prime minister and Bersatu chairman.

Bersatu has left the coalition, while Mr Azmin and PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin have been sacked from the party.

The king summoned Dr Mahathir to the Istana Negara for an audience at 5pm on Monday, with speculation rife that a new coalition government will be formed. MALAY MAIL