The Bersih 3.0 rally (also called Sit In rally or Duduk Bantah in Malay) was the second largest democratic protest in Malaysia. This rally was organised as a follow-up to the 2011 Bersih rally and the 2007 Bersih rally. The rally, organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), was supported by Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia along with other small political parties like Parti Sosialis Malaysia and social organisations such as Malaysian Trades Union Congress, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and Malaysian Bar.
In addition, Bersih 3.0 was endorsed by 84 NGOs. In particular, it was joined by Himpunan Hijau (Green Assembly), a civil movement protesting the Lynas rare earth project in Malaysia. In addition to the main rally at Kuala Lumpur, smaller rallies were held in 10 other cities in Malaysia, as well as in 34 other countries. Following the last rally in 2011, the government of Malaysia organised a Public Select Committee (PSC) to look into electoral reforms in Malaysia, which released their proposals in April 2012.
Seven of the eight demands by the Bersih have been included in the 22 recommendations submitted by the PSC. PSC Committee member P. Kamalanathan said only one demand by Bersih, on a minimum 21 days campaign period, was not included because it was not suitable to be implemented in Sabah and Sarawak. However, the matter was still being considered, where the current campaign period of seven days had been extended to 10 days. Bersih claimed that PSC proposals were half-hearted and accused the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) of being insincere in introducing electoral reforms. Bersih has stated that they would call off the rally if the Malaysian government gave a guarantee that electoral reforms take place before the next Malaysian general elections.
Background
Bersih
Bersih, short for the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (), is a coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations founded in November 2006. Since its founding, Bersih has been supported by the three main opposition parties, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS, and DAP. Bersih is the Malay word for "clean."
Bersih, is chaired by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan. Ambiga served as president of the Bar from 2007 to 2009 and is a recipient of the US State Department's International Women of Courage Awards.
The first Bersih rally on 10 November 2007 was estimated to have drawn between 30,000 and 50,000 people. It was broken up by police using tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons. The rally was said to play a major role in helping the opposition parties make big gains in the 2008 general election. The second rally on 9 July 2011 was met with similar force by the police after they tried to make their way to the Merdeka Stadium.Bersih insists on holding rally at Stadium Merdeka The Star Online
Bersih's demands The Bersih's initial demands were: Clean the electoral roll Reform postal voting Use of indelible ink A minimum campaign period of 21 days Free and fair access to mainstream media Strengthen public institutions Stop corruption Stop dirty politics These demands were later agreed by the government prior to the 2012 protests except for one demand.
Following the government's agreement to the demands, Bersih shifted to demanding the resignation of the entire Election Commission, a demand which analysts consider unreasonable.
Public select committee The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms was formed in the aftermath of the 2011 Bersih rally. The committee, consisting of five Barisan Nasional MPs, three Pakatan Rakyat MPs and one Independent MP, came up with 22 recommendations for reforming the electoral system in Malaysia.PSC report gripped last week's sitting Free Malaysia Today However an opposition minority report was rejected by the parliament speaker without further debate.Speaker rejects minority report, tempers flare Free Malaysia TodayPSC's report on electoral reforms passed without debate theSundaily
Lead up to the rally
Announcement Early in April 2012, the Public Select Committee released a report of their findings on electoral reform. The speaker in the Dewan Rakyat, or House of Representatives, passed the report with no debate between the opposition and ruling parties. An opposition minority report was not included in the final report.Bersih 3.0 wants to sit down and protest New Mandala So far, none of Bersih's demands have been met, and with indications that the Malaysian Government would be calling a general election without any electoral reforms, Bersih announced a third rally for clean and fair elections for 28 April 2012.Bersih 3.0 wants to sit down and protest — Dahlia Martin The Malaysian Insider
Non-government organisations Bersih has been backed by the Bar Council of Malaysia and Suhakam.Suhakam, Bar Council show support for Bersih 3.0 Free Malaysia Today The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) supports the Bersih's right for a peaceful assembly.Interfaith group: Support Bersih 3.0, all religions demand fair play and transparency Malaysia Chronicle Bersih 3.0 was also backed by Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM), an Islamic missionary NGO.IKRAM Menyokong BERSIH 3.0 Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia
Government reaction Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stated that the government over-reacted in its response to the Bersih rally in 2011.We overreacted to Bersih 2.0, says Hisham Malaysiakini Hishammuddin has said that the government does not view the Bersih 3.0 rally as a security threat.Bersih Rally Not Security Threat – Hishammuddin BERNAMA He offered two alternative venues to that of Dataran Merdeka, Bukit Jalil National Stadium and Stadium Merdeka, but these were rejected by Bersih.2 stadiums offered as alternate Bersih rally venue AsiaOne News
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has described the Bersih ("clean") rally as "dirty", saying they do not respect the laws of the country.Rais calls Bersih ‘dirty’ gathering Free Malaysia Today
After several meetings between Bersih and DBKL, no compromise was made regarding the choice of venue for the rally.DBKL and Bersih in deadlock over Dataran the Sun Daily DBKL erected barricades to prevent the sit-in rally by Bersih.DBKL locks down Dataran Merdeka Free Malaysia Today
Court orders The Malaysian High Court instructed the Hishammuddin to clarify whether Bersih is a banned organisation, especially since his recent statements were inconsistent regarding the organisation.Court orders Hisham to clarify Bersih ban Free Malaysia TodayCourt orders Hisham to state if Bersih still banned The Malaysian Insider
The Malaysian police received an order from Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court barring any entry by Bersih into Dataran Merdeka and any rally gathering there would be considered illegal.Court order issued against Bersih 3.0 The Sun DailyCourt Grants Restraining Order Barring Entrance Into Dataran Merdeka BERNAMA
False claims During the lead up to the rally, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claimed in a Malay daily, that the Election Commission (EC) chairman and deputy chairman were members of the governing party, leading to claims of conflict of interest. Bersih stated they would give the two men the benefit of the doubt until more information surfaced.EC-UMNO ties: Ambiga shocked Free Malaysia TodayEC chief, deputy admit they ‘could have been’ UMNO members The Malaysian Insider
Saifuddin alleged that EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof is a member of Bunga Daisy UMNO branch under the Putrajaya division and his deputy, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar is a member of Kubang Bunggor UMNO branch under the Pasir Mas Kelantan Division. Wan Ahmad denied the allegations and in slamming the PKR secretary-general for the "big lie", he wanted the former to apologise for slandering him. In response to the demand to step down by the opposition, EC chairman said under the Constitution, the chairman and the deputy were appointed by the King, in line with advice from the Malay rulers. The EC Chairman stated that this was a sign of disrespect by the opposition of the royal institution.
The claims were later disproven when it was later discovered that the Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof was a driver at the Prime Minister's Office, unrelated to the EC chairman. Then, a pensioner who runs a food stall in Kelantan, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar also came forward denying the allegation and said that Saifuddin had mistaken him for the EC deputy chairman. Both the national identification card and party membership numbers revealed by Saifuddin were actually his. UMNO Head Office also confirmed that both Tan Sri Abd Aziz and Datuk Wan Ahmad are not UMNO members.
Protest Despite the police roadblocks, independent journalists estimate a turn up of up to 100,000 people, although the organisers themselves claimed up to 300,000 people turned up for the rally in Kuala Lumpur. Nearly 58 roads leading into the city were blocked by the police.80,000 at city centre despite KL lockdown Free Malaysia Today Protestors gathered at several points in the city such as Masjid Negara, Masjid India, Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Brickfields and Jalan Sultan before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.Court order and barriers won't stop Bersih Free Malaysia Today
Prior to the protest, a minor unrest was reported when a group of people attacked a police patrol car passing through Dataran Merdeka at around 3 AM, around 10 hours before the protest even began. The crowd chanted abuse, hitting the patrol car and banging on its bonnet.
The protest itself initially began peaceful. However, at around 2:55 PM, protestors at Dataran Merdeka eventually broke into the barrier and the crowd darted into the barricaded area. Less than two minutes later, the police began using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors.Police fire tear gas, water cannons as demonstrators push into Dataran The Malaysian Insider
Multiple violent incidents were reported, including police vehicles being assaulted by protestors. One such incident involved the policeman driving the car being knocked unconscious after being attacked while he was driving, causing him to crash into a pavement outside a shopping mall, injuring two protesters.Driver: I passed out before crash malaysiakini The car would later be overturned by the protesters.
During the same incident, a journalist who was trying to save the unconscious policeman, was beaten by the protesters, marking one of the many incidents of violence and hostility towards journalists during the protest.
Some protesters were beaten by over a dozen police which kicked and punched or surrounded the latter. There are protesters which are beaten by sticks and even beaten even though they are being carried to the detention centre without retaliation. When near the press, the police stopped all their harassments.
A total of 512 people were arrested for various offences in the rally, far less than the 1,667 detained in the Bersih 2.0 rally the previous year.
909 tear gas canisters and 58 tear gas grenades were used by the police against the protesters in the rally.
20 policemen were injured by protestors, and a total of 12 vehicles from the Malaysian police were damaged by the protestors during the protest.
Social media were used not only to organise the rally, but to spread the mission of Bersih 3.0.
The protest was participated by an estimated 100,000 people, making it the second largest democratic protest in Malaysia after the 1998 Reformasi protests which saw several hundred thousand participants.