THE Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) has reminded Putrajaya that 2024 and 2025 are critical for the nation’s democratisation as well as implementation of reforms.
Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz expressed concern that the reform agenda promised by the unity government will be sidelined and forgotten once politicians begin focusing on elections over the next few years.
“We have explained to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that it’s the right time to implement the reform agenda.
“Soon, there will be state elections in Sabah and Sarawak, followed by Malacca and Johor.
“Politicians will be busy talking about elections and we do not want reforms to be sidelined during these four years of the unity government,” he said in his policy speech at the 2024 Bersih Congress in Kuala Lumpur today.
Bersih has been pushing the unity government to implement the promised reforms, having organised a rally outside parliament in February to demand 100% implementation.
Faisal also expressed appreciation to the prime minister and his government for their openness towards feedback.
The Bersih chairman said during their meeting in February, he told Anwar that this is the right time for the prime minister to implement the reform agenda.
He said the government must move forward with the promised reform agenda without forgetting the economic agenda and people’s cost of living.
Without reform, he said, democracy will certainly shrink and even become regressive.
“Similarly, without democracy, it will close the space for reformation based on the aspirations of the people’s sacred voice to be implemented.
“The struggle to uphold reformation and democracy should go hand in hand, realising the compatibility of the two mutually empowering relationships,” he said.
He added that today’s congress aims to demand reform and empower democracy, while also rekindling the people’s hope for reform. – May 25, 2024
