Bersih 2.0 warns of bigger wave

If the election is called before reforms are implemented, Bersih 2.0's Wong Chin Huat says Malaysians will be irked and a 'greater tsunami' may happen.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Bersih 2.0 has warned the government that if the general election is called without electoral reforms put in place, another wave will come crashing.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat said Malaysians would not take kindly to elections being held before recommendations by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms were implemented.

“You’d probably see Bersih 3.0 in whatever form, and it’ll turn out to be a greater tsunami,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

“The government should respect the institutions of Parliament and (allow them to) run its course… If you call for elections in the next six months before the PSC actually finishes its work, you are killing the PSC,” he said.

Yesterday, the government moved a motion to set up a nine-member panel to look into electoral reforms.

The move, which was promised by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak followed the heavy-handed crackdown against the July 9 Bersih 2.0 protest, which saw more than 1,700 people arrested.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudu MP) was named as the panel’s chairman while the other four were Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi, Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Alor Gajah MP Dr Fong Chan Onn and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan.

Opposition MPs sitting on the panel are PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (Gombak MP), PAS treasurer Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai MP) and DAP Youth chief Antony Loke (Rasah MP). Independent MP, Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), would also be on the panel. The committee had its first meeting this morning.