By Amin Iskandar
Assistant News Editor
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — A coalition of 26 NGOs will hold a public rally on the eve of National Day with the theme ‘‘Janji Bersih” or “Bersih’s Promise” at Dataran Merdeka here, the same venue where thousands of Malaysians had tried to gather on April 28 in defiance of a ban to demand for changes to election laws and rules.
Bersih 2.0 co-chairman Datuk A. Samad Said (picture) said today all Malaysians are invited to jointly participate in this event in conjunction with the countdown to National Day.
“We have heard many promises... we know what people want is a clean and fair Malaysia as a celebration of independence of 55 years” he said.
“Janji Bersih’’ will commence at 10pm at the Dataran Merdeka fountain with poetry readings by the National Laureate.
“To celebrate the theme ‘Janji Bersih’ we also recommend people of all races, all over the country — young and old — wear yellow at the same time as at this gathering place,” he said.
Empower executive director of Maria Chin Abdullah, who is also a member of the coalition, said the gathering was not a demonstration but was instead a celebration of independence.
According to the organisers, “Janji Bersih” aims to remind the public the eight demands for clean and fair elections made by Bersih, which organised the mass gathering on April 28.
“The eight demands for Bersih have yet to be fulfilled which is why we want to remind the government of this celebration of independence.”
“It is possible ‘Janji Bersih’ will be attended by many parties,” said Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who is chairman of Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM).