On 5 October 2019, Global Bersih and Bersih France organized a “Malaysia Baharu” forum in Paris, France. We had representatives from Bersih Netherlands, Bersih Germany and Bersih Switzerland gathered in the Holiday Inn hotel for the forum.

Among the points taken from the forum:

a) The centralization of power on one person (Malaysian Prime Minister) is still worrisome for many Malaysians

b) The current government is losing support from the people who have voted for them in the last General Election because of unfulfilled election manifestos and promises. For example, the abolition of the Sedition Act is still not done.

c) The infighting and disagreements within the current PH coalitions is impacting their implementation of the promised reforms

d) Quality of education and racial divisions in Malaysia continue to be major concerns of all Malaysians

e) The current government needs to find the “middle ground” to make and implement policies that benefit all Malaysians regardless of race and religion

f) Instead of getting political support based on race and religion agendas, the current ruling coalitions need to start to get support based on hope and new reforms as agenda.

g) Global Bersih as a civil society can highlight and continue to press the government to “get their act together” to fulfill their election promises and manifesto.

After an exciting forum, we had a drawing demonstration from Zunar and later the drawing was sold in an auction to the highest bidder. Proceeds were then donated to Global Bersih to continue their cause for a better Malaysia.

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We had also a great and enjoyable dinner with Zunar and participants from Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Kudos and well done to Bersih France for organizing and hosting the event!

Sharing from ROSE (NGO in Sarawak) : In view of the political will that has brought down the age of eligibility to vote etc plus AVR, the eventuality is a drastic increase in number of voters..This not necessarily a good thing if Nothing is done to inform and educate young and old on franchise and rights of voting including role of being citizen- As part of the strategic plans set at the beginning of this year, we will need to take on projects aiming to educate younger folks.
The attached copy of text book was shared with us and you should have a look at what a Form 4 student would have learnt in 1970 in his or her Civics class. First chapter is already on system of governance.

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After all the hard work, Global Bersih has published the Overseas Voting Reform Proposal on 2 Aug 2019.

Full papers can be downloaded from the Global Bersih website:

Overseas Voting Reform Proposal

Figure 1 : Prof Bridget Welsh speaking in our forum

Figure 2 : The audience listening tentatively to Prof. Bridget Welsh

Figure 3 : Our team and Bridget after the forum session

Bersih NL has once again successfully organized a forum about Malaysia Baru on 3 November 2018 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We had the privilege to have YB Maria Chin (via Skype), Prof. Bridget Welsh and Dr Greg Lopez (via Skype) as our speakers and panel members. Prof. Welsh provided us her great analysis on what happened during the 14^th Malaysian General Election (GE14) in May 2018, how the change of government happened and what forces and challenges the new government is facing post GE14. Critical take-away from her talk are:

• Change is possible “one of the stories of the year”
• Change of government, not “regime change”
• ‘Minority victory’ dependent on East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), “Malay deficit” in support within Malaysia as a whole
• New coalition government, with problems inside this governing coalition source of instability
• Elites within the system critical facilitators in actual transition on May 10, and they are continuing to pressure for “safe landings”
• Shifts in voting behavior not about “race” but a combination of drivers including generation and class factors, new frameworks for understanding Malaysia needed

YB Maria Chin shared with us her focus as the new Member of Parliament (MP); which are the Reform Agenda and to address the issues of the people in urban slump (B40). Finally, YB Maria stressed that this is the time for Malaysian diaspora to join Global Bersih to make a pitch to the new Election Commission (EC) chairman and committee members on electoral reform as they are seen to be more open to change and align to the electoral reform proposed by Bersih 2.0.

Dr Greg Lopez has also shared his views. For example, on one of the questions from the audience, which is on the topic of “brain drain” among Malaysians. He mentioned that Malaysians are now more connected via the Internet that the knowledge sharing is now more wide spread globally among Malaysians living overseas.

We also had other NGOs like BothENDS (https://www.bothends.org/en/) and Global Bersih chapters (Bersih Scotland and Bersih Germany) joining us for this event.

Going forward, is for us to form small working groups where we can brainstorm on the areas for us to focus and research on, with the aim to produce proposals to help our new cabinet members and MPs to address the many pressing issues regarding electoral reforms, education, restoration of the forests, new alternative energy and waste management. If you would like to join us in this nation building effort, do email us at [email protected]

If you missed this session, you can still view the video recording: https://www.facebook.com/bersihnetherlands/videos/493770371121320/

Professor Bridget Welsh has agreed to come and join us in the Netherlands for a talk and live forum with all Malaysians and NGOs. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Date : 3 Nov 2018
Time: 13:30-17:00
Venue : Nivon Rotterdam (Dirk Smitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam)
Register in Facebook

Download poster (click)

Watch one of her famous lectures about Malaysia’s GE14

VIDEO: Bridget Welsh on Malaysia’s political transformation

Professor Bridget Welsh is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Asian Outreach at John Cabot University. She analyzes Southeast Asian politics, especially Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries in the region. In the aftermath of the stunning results of Malaysia’s 14th General Elections on May 9, JCU Associate Professor of Political Science and Malaysia expert Bridget Welsh is one of the lead commentators in international media. Her most recent books are entitled “End of UMNO Post GE14: Essays on Malaysia’s Former Dominant Party” (2018) and “Regime Resilence in Malaysia and Singapore” (co-edited with Greg Lopez, 2018).

Map to Nivon

 

Email us for more details : [email protected]

Figure 1 – Photo of polling station in Sarikei, Sarawak

Figure 2 – Indelible ink (stays on your finger for months!)

1) SPONSORSHIP : Through the “Pulang Mengundi” campaign, we are proud of our Bersih Network Netherlands’ members and friends to have sponsored five students (first time voters) from Sabah and Sarawak to fly home to vote from their universities in West Malaysia. This is to encourage our young generations to exercise their rights to vote as citizens of Malaysia.

Figure 3 – Bersih NL members collecting ballots at Schipol Airport to be hand carried back to Malaysia by our runners

Figure 4 – Bersih NL’s efforts were featured in local newspaper “You were late, but we still made it!”

2. OVERSEAS’ VOTING BALLOTS : Another proud moment is that 27 ballots have been successfully transported back to their respective polling agents a day before the polling day by our runners from Germany! Thanks to the Undi Rabu runners also, who carried our ballots to Kuantan, Alor Setar and Johor Bharu. The rest of the ballots were passed to family members in the Klang Valley or to Penang and Bukit Mertajam. Our team was also featured in the local newspaper (China Press)! Kudos!

The screening of The Borneo Case and Live Forum with Maria Chin Abdullah and Clare Rewcastle-Brown on 9 March 2018 was a success!  Thank you ISS for having us. We are very inspired by both Clare and Maria for their great efforts for a better Malaysia!

Thanks to all who helped. Hope this event has inspired you to remember Malaysia and the sacrifices of the activists who are speaking up against injustice, corruption and unpunished crimes in Malaysia.

Link to play the recording of the forum.

It is a sad day that we have another case where the ones who expose corruption are punished and the corrupt are still free and flourishing (Tan Sri’s and Datuk Sri’s). News on MP Rafizi Ramli and a bank clerk sentenced for 30 months jail: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2018/02/332922/rafizi-ramli-jailed-30-months-breaching-bafia-nsttv

We lost another good lawmaker in the next General Election as MP Rafizi Ramli is not able to stand for the election when he is in jail.

We would like to plead to those Malaysians who qualify to vote for the next GE14 (going to happen the next few months) to either go home to vote or to cast your vote via postal voting.

See below a sample of postal ballot released by Sinchew Daily:

Link to Sinchew’s article.

What you need to do as a Malaysian living overseas?

1. Check your status at https://pengundi.spr.gov.my/
2. If you are already registered as a Pengundi Tidak Hadir , then contact the embassy for information on voting . If not , you will have to register using Borang 1b – even if you have registered for the last election : http://www.spr.gov.my/sites/default/files/Syarat%20dan%20Borang%201B.pdf
3. After sending your Borang 1b – check your status online from time to Time to check for any updates on your status .
4. When the General Election is called, your ballots will be sent to your overseas address. You will have to send the ballots back to the officer in your constituency. ( instructions will be included)

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This is a write up of our recent Q&A session with Maria Chin Abdullah. You can access this news at Malaysia Insight. Please share with your friends and Family in Malaysia.
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/36059/

Let us know if you have any questions at [email protected]

Salam Bersih!

Bersih Network Netherlands