Bersih

Bersih, formally the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Malay: Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil), is a Malaysian coalition of non-governmental organisations and civil-society groups focused on electoral integrity and democratic reform. The Malay word bersih means “clean,” reflecting the coalition’s central demand for an election system that is transparent, impartial and protected from manipulation. Its advocacy has addressed the electoral roll, constituency boundaries, postal voting, campaign conditions, media access, public institutions, corruption and the conduct of the Election Commission. The movement originated in 2005 as a joint initiative involving opposition political parties and civic organisations. It was formally established on 23 November 2006 through a joint communiqué supported by political parties, trade-union and human-rights groups, media-freedom organisations and other NGOs. Bersih argued that Malaysia’s electoral arrangements gave an excessive advantage to the long-governing Barisan Nasional coalition. Among the problems it highlighted were alleged gerrymandering, malapportionment, irregularities in the electoral roll, phantom voters and weaknesses in postal voting. Bersih became nationally prominent through its first mass rally on 10 November 2007 in Kuala Lumpur. Its four principal demands were a clean electoral roll, the use of indelible ink, reform or abolition of postal voting for military and police personnel, and fair access to mass media for all parties. Authorities declined to issue a permit, and police used tear gas and chemical-laced water cannon to disperse demonstrators. The movement’s yellow clothing and ribbons became a widely recognised symbol of electoral reform. The rally was later associated with the changing political environment surrounding the 2008 general election, when Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time since 1969. In 2010, Bersih was relaunched as Bersih 2.0, an explicitly civil-society movement without formal political-party affiliation. Lawyer and former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan became chairperson in 2011. Bersih 2.0 organised the 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally and the 2012 Bersih 3.0 rally after activists concluded that electoral concerns had not been adequately addressed. The 2011 demonstration, also known as the Walk for Democracy, expanded the platform to eight demands, including stronger public institutions, an extended campaign period, the elimination of corruption and an end to dirty politics. Police arrests, roadblocks, tear gas and water-cannon use made the rally a major civil-liberties controversy. After the government established a Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reform in October 2011, the committee issued 22 recommendations in 2012. Bersih considered the report inadequate because implementation was left largely to the existing Election Commission, many proposals would take substantial time, and alleged election abuses were not fully acknowledged. Bersih 3.0, held on 28 April 2012 as a sit-down protest known as Duduk Bantah, called for the Election Commission to resign, implementation of the reform demands before the next general election and international observation of that election. The gathering was followed by clashes, injuries and extensive criticism of police tactics. Bersih continued its work through a 2013 People's Tribunal examining alleged irregularities in the 5 May 2013 general election, the Bersih 4 rallies in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in August 2015, and the Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur on 19 November 2016. Its campaigns also generated international solidarity actions organised by Global Bersih in cities across Asia, Oceania, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Bersih is best understood not as a commercial product brand but as a movement identity and advocacy platform whose public presence is expressed through campaigns, rallies, voter education and institutional reform proposals.

Bersih began in 2005 as a Joint Action Committee for Electoral Reform involving opposition parties and civil-society organisations. In September 2006, representatives of political parties, human-rights groups, media-freedom organisations, student groups and other NGOs met in Kuala Lumpur at an electoral-reform workshop. Their discussions produced the coalition’s first joint communiqué, formally issued on 23 November 2006. The coalition’s founding argument was that Malaysia’s electoral system contained structural and administrative weaknesses that disadvantaged opposition parties and voters. Bersih called attention to constituency malapportionment, alleged gerrymandering, questionable electoral-roll entries, postal-voting procedures and unequal access to mass media. It also challenged the independence and effectiveness of the Election Commission, which operated under the Prime Minister’s Department. Bersih’s first major public action occurred on 10 November 2007. Tens of thousands of people gathered in and around central Kuala Lumpur to present four demands: cleaning the electoral roll, introducing indelible ink, reforming postal voting for military and police personnel, and ensuring fair media access. The authorities did not grant a permit, and police used crowd-control measures including tear gas and chemical-laced water cannon. The mobilisation established yellow as Bersih’s signature colour and helped turn electoral reform into a prominent public issue. In 2010, the coalition was reconstituted as Bersih 2.0, removing its formal connection with political parties and presenting itself as an independent civil-society movement. Ambiga Sreenevasan became chairperson in 2011. The second rally, held on 9 July 2011, expanded the platform to eight demands. In addition to the original four issues, Bersih called for a minimum 21-day campaign period, stronger public institutions, an end to corruption and an end to dirty politics. The authorities denied a permit, arrested supporters before the event and deployed tear gas and water cannon during the demonstration. Solidarity gatherings were held by Malaysians overseas through the Global Bersih network. The government responded by creating a Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reform in October 2011. Its report, released in early 2012, contained 22 recommendations and was approved by the Dewan Rakyat. Bersih regarded the report as insufficient, arguing that it left implementation to the existing Election Commission, did not adequately address alleged fraud and allowed reforms to be delayed. Bersih 3.0 therefore took place on 28 April 2012. The Duduk Bantah action added demands for the Election Commission’s resignation, implementation of the reform agenda before the next election and international election observation. The protest was initially permitted under the Peaceful Assembly Act, but disorder followed after demonstrators entered restricted areas. Police used tear gas and water cannon, and demonstrators, police officers, journalists and bystanders were injured. After the 2013 general election, Bersih created a People's Tribunal held from 18 to 21 September 2013. Invited witnesses presented accounts concerning alleged electoral irregularities and incidents. Bersih also continued to oppose electoral-boundary exercises that it considered unfair. In 2015, Bersih 4 rallies were held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu over 29–30 August. In 2016, Bersih 5 took place peacefully in Kuala Lumpur, alongside a convoy intended to spread awareness of democratic issues throughout Malaysia. The coalition’s work has combined street mobilisation, public education, international diaspora coordination, testimony and pressure for institutional change. Its lasting significance lies in making electoral administration and democratic accountability central themes in Malaysian public life.

• 2016

  Bersih 5 rally

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  Bersih stages a Kuala Lumpur rally and a nationwide awareness convoy.

• 2015

  Bersih 4 rallies

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  Rallies are held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

• 2013

  People's Tribunal

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  Bersih convenes a tribunal to hear testimony about alleged irregularities in the 2013 general election.

• 2012

  Bersih 3.0 rally

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  The Duduk Bantah protest demands implementation of reforms, an Election Commission resignation and international election observation.

• 2011

  Bersih 2.0 rally

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  The Walk for Democracy expands Bersih’s agenda to eight electoral and governance demands.

• 2010

  Relaunch as Bersih 2.0

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition is reorganised as a civil-society movement without formal political-party affiliation.

• 2007

  First Bersih rally

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition holds its first mass demonstration and submits four electoral-reform demands to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

• 2006

  Bersih is formally established

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  Political parties, NGOs and civil-society groups issue a joint communiqué formally establishing the coalition on 23 November.

• 2005

  Electoral-reform initiative begins

  [1]Bersihen.wikipedia.org

  Opposition parties initiate a joint effort for electoral reform that later expands into a broader civil-society coalition.

A non-partisan Malaysian civil-society movement positioned around clean elections, democratic accountability, electoral fairness and protection of civic participation.

• Advocacy program · 2006

  Electoral-reform platform

  Bersih’s principal offering is its evolving set of demands for clean and fair elections. These have covered electoral-roll integrity, indelible ink, postal voting, campaign duration, media access, public institutions, corruption, political conduct, the Election Commission and international election observation.

• Civil-society campaign · 2007

  Public rallies and civic mobilisations

  The Bersih rally series provides a public platform for citizens and supporting organisations to advocate electoral and democratic reform. The events use the yellow Bersih identity and have included national demonstrations, sit-down protests, city-based actions and overseas solidarity gatherings.

• Public inquiry · 2013

  People's Tribunal

  The People's Tribunal was a Bersih-organised forum held in 2013 to collect and examine witness testimony concerning alleged irregularities and incidents surrounding Malaysia’s 2013 general election.

• 2016Bersih 5

  Malaysia

  A peaceful Kuala Lumpur rally and nationwide convoy highlighted democratic concerns and sought to broaden public awareness.

  Outcome. The campaign maintained public pressure for electoral and institutional reform.

  Source
• 2015Bersih 4

  Malaysia

  Rallies in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu continued the coalition’s electoral and democratic reform campaign.

  Outcome. The mobilisation extended Bersih’s national visibility across Peninsular and East Malaysia.

  Source
• 2012Bersih 3.0 / Duduk Bantah

  Malaysia · International diaspora communities

  The sit-down protest called for implementation of the reform agenda, resignation of the Election Commission and international observation of the next election.

  Outcome. The protest ended in disorder after restricted areas were breached, with injuries and police use of tear gas and water cannon.

  Source
• 2011Bersih 2.0 / Walk for Democracy

  Malaysia · International diaspora communities

  The campaign promoted eight demands covering election administration, campaign conditions, public institutions, corruption and political conduct.

  Outcome. A Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reform was subsequently established, while police actions against the rally generated civil-liberties criticism.

  Source
• 2007Bersih rally

  Malaysia

  The first mass rally demanded a clean electoral roll, indelible ink, postal-voting reform and equal media access.

  Outcome. The rally made electoral reform a major national issue but was dispersed by police and followed by mass detentions.

  Source

• 2012

  Hold Bersih 3.0 after rejecting the reform committee responseStrategy

  Background

  Bersih considered the Parliamentary Select Committee’s 22 recommendations inadequate because implementation was assigned to existing institutions and alleged abuses were not fully addressed.

  Action taken

  The coalition announced a sit-down protest with additional demands concerning the Election Commission and international observers.

  Aftermath

  The event became one of Malaysia’s largest democratic protests but was followed by clashes, injuries and controversy over police conduct.

  Source

• 2010

  Adopt an independent civil-society structureStrategy

  Background

  The original coalition included political parties as well as NGOs, while its electoral-reform agenda increasingly required a visibly non-partisan public identity.

  Action taken

  Bersih was relaunched as Bersih 2.0, an organisation presented as unaffiliated with political parties.

  Aftermath

  The reorganisation enabled the movement to continue mass mobilisation while emphasising civic rather than party-political legitimacy.

  Source

1. 1Bersihen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bersih official websitebersih.org