The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih2.0) and our partner ENGAGE would like to announce that with the easing of the Movement Control Order (MCO), we will be winding down #MakanKongsi and are calling for a halt to the collection of donations from today onwards. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the 1683 donors, our 50 partners and our #MakanKongsi Working Committee for making this initiative a resounding success during these most trying times.

#MakanKongsi was first initiated with a humble call for RM13,440 by ENGAGE on 20th March to provide food vouchers so that the homeless will be taken care of during the MCO. Together with Bersih2.0, it has evolved over the weeks into a humanitarian aids funder for other NGOs and individuals who are working to ease the hardships of the most vulnerable communities during the MCO. Along the way, we learned of so many heartfelt stories and are appalled by the hardship faced by so many. #MakanKongsi regrets that we are not able to help every one of them. However, with the public donation, and the hard work of our partners, we have collected RM544,262.72 to date and given out 99 grants in forms of food vouchers, financial aids and provision packs to approximately 19,786 beneficiaries all across Malaysia, regardless of ethnicities, nationalities and creeds.

Although we are wrapping up #MakanKongsi in order to focus on our core purpose as an electoral reform organisation, we are well aware that there are still many challenges ahead for those affected by the MCO. Even if the MCO is fully lifted, the needy and daily wage earner and the small-medium businesses they work for are still at risk and assistance would still be required for some. As such, we call on all generous Malaysians to continue supporting organisations and individuals who are helping those in need them.

Bersih 2.0 and ENGAGE would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate all the people’s initiatives, from organizations to individuals to politicians, in helping the vulnerable communities and supporting the medical frontliners, security personnel who enforced the MCO to ensure that we control the spread of COVID-19 effectively.  Surely we can come out of this #StrongerTogether as we embrace the spirit of #KitaJagaKita.

Last but not least, we exercise a high standard of accountability and transparency, we have put up a link for you to view our list of partners, grants given, communities served, the number of beneficiaries, donations to date, total disbursements and balance. The link is at https://bit.ly/MKpartners. We will also make public our final report of #MakanKongsi on our website as soon as we have dispensed every single cent donated to #MakanKongsi. As promised, all monies raised will be converted to meals for the needy.

Statement issued by:
The Steering Committee of Bersih 2.0
Executive Committee of ENGAGE