The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH) is pleased to announce that Ooi Kok Hin has been appointed as our Executive Director, effective 20 March 2023.

He brings a diverse experience, skills, and network of over eight years in think tanks, civil society and academia. Kok Hin was previously a research manager of The Centre, a political analyst at Penang Institute, and an ‘alumni’ of the Bersih rallies.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from The Ohio State University (USA), and a master’s degree in political from Waseda University (Japan), where his thesis on student activism and neoliberal politics won the best thesis in political science award. He is also the editor of “Making Democracy Work: Institutional Reforms for Malaysia”, a new book by Bersih and a team of researchers spelling out the roadmap for key reforms.

Prior to this appointment, Kok Hin was a resource person for Bersih since April 2021 where his expertise and commitment are of tremendous value to the Steering Committee. He will be assisted by Chief Programme Officer, Asraf Sharafi, and secretariat team Lhavanya Dharmalingam, Ahmad Salami, and Dorina Esut.

Bersih is honoured to have Kok Hin leading the secretariat and we are confident that the secretariat’s young leadership will be effective in carrying out Bersih’s advocacy for electoral and institutional reforms at the highest level.

Lastly, the Steering Committee takes this opportunity to express our gratitude to Ngeow Chow Ying, who stepped in as Acting Executive Director for the past one year, following the retirement of Yap Swee Seng. Both proved to be ‘steady hands’ who contributed greatly to our organisational strength. We thank them, and members of the public, for the continuous support for the struggle towards free and fair elections.

Issued by:
The Steering Committee of BERSIH