8 immediate demands for BERSIH 2.0

8 immediate demands for BERSIH 2.0:

 

1. Clean the electoral roll, which is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. 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, to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia, residing in or out of the country, are able to exercise their right to vote.

3. Use of indelible ink to reduce voter fraud.

4. Minimum 21 days campaign period to allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. 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, where all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.

6. Strengthen public institutions to 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 uphold laws and protect human rights.

7. Stop corruption, and take serious action against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.

8. Stop dirty politics, as citizens and voters are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.

The above 8 demands of Bersih 2.0 are urgent national issues which need to be addressed. These demands are part and parcel of a rakyat’s movement to bring about a better reformed electoral processes, laws and policies so that we can advance a democratic Malaysia for all.