Press Statement, 16 May 2012
On behalf of BERSIH 2.0 and its steering committee members, I condemn the on-going harassment and intimidation meted solely against Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan.
It pains me to witness the despicable harassment committed against her, my fellow Bersih co-chairperson and fellow Malaysian. She is someone who has dedicated years of her life to the advancement of human rights and the betterment of our society. While abhorrent and sometimes aggressive attacks have been carried out at Dato’ Ambiga’s private home, Dato’ Ambiga has been handling the situation with dignity and grace.
As a Malaysian citizen who has lived through many ups and downs of this country, I appeal to the best in each of us to do our part to put an end to this harassment. The government must also speak out to condemn this treatment of a civil society leader – by staying silent and not taking action, the government has condoned this dirty and low behaviour.
Dato’ Ambiga is not alone in calling for free, fair and clean elections. Besides Ambiga and myself, there are 19 other Bersih Steering Committee members, 84 endorsing NGOs, and of course the 250,000 people who took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur and tens of thousands more in at least 11 other locations in Malaysia and also oversea Malaysians from 85 cities around the world – all in solidarity in the struggle for free, fair and clean elections.
Thank you.
Salam Bersih!
Jom mengundi!
Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson)
BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah (Kuching), Dominic Hii (Sibu), Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rias, Liau Kok Fah, Mark Bujang (Miri), Maria Chin Abdullah, Niloh Ason (Kuching), Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.