Press Statement, 6 May 2013
Results of the 13th General Elections – Questions Remain On Their Legitimacy

BERSIH 2.0, through its PEMANTAU initiative, has been made aware of numerous reports of various incidents of violations of election laws, the code of conduct for caretaker government and political violence during the course of the 13th General Elections campaign.
On election day yesterday, 5th May 2013, further reports were received of electoral fraud, phantom voters and irregularities in the voting and vote counting processes. The extent of these reports have led us to question the legitimacy of some of the results in the 13th General Elections.
BERSIH 2.0 is witholding recognition of the new government that will be formed until it has had time to study the reports that it has received. We are calling for anyone who has first-hand information of fraud or other irregularities to come forward to make police reports and to share with us the information. We also encourage all candidates who have suffered as a result of electoral fraud and other irregularities to file election petitions. We look to our courts and legal system to protect and uphold the rights of the Rakyat.
In the meantime, BERSIH 2.0 will take steps to convene a People’s Tribunal to consider the evidence that we have and will receive and to hear from witnesses. This People’s Tribunal will comprise eminent personalities from both without and within the country. More information will be released on this People’s Panel in due course.
BERSIH 2.0 is also calling for a boycott of specific media organisiations that have aided and abetted the uneven playing field that the Rakyat have had to endure during the period of the election campaign. In this regard we call on the Rakyat to boycott The New Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia, The Star and Berita Harian for the next one month.
As the Election Commission has also clearly failed to ensure a clean, free and fair election process, BERSIH 2.0 repeats its call for all the members of the Election Commission to resign immediately. New commissioners who enjoy public confidence should be appointed to replace them.
As an immediate and symbolic response, we invite the Rakyat to wear an item of black clothing for the next one month as well.
Thank you.
Salam BERSIH!
Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (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 Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin