GEORGE TOWN – Bersih flagged off their roadshow titled Voter Supremacy or Ketuanan Pengundi here today, aiming to curb voter fatigue as the nation gears up for the next general election.
Following the campaign for voter empowerment, which was launched on September 14 last year, ahead of the next general election, the Voter Supremacy campaign listed six demands for reform – to end voter suppression, party-hopping, draconian laws and double standards, make Parliament independent and uphold the need for local government elections.
Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government after a mere 22 months in power exposed many flaws and weaknesses in the political system.
“If not addressed through political reform, Malaysia will continue to be plagued by political instability.
“We need a better system, do not accept what we have as the best that we can have.
“Our system is way below the Commonwealth standard, and there is nothing inferior about Malaysia that we cannot have something better,” he said.
Fann also urged the younger generation to not give up hope on the possibility of reform.
“No matter if one votes or not, one person will be elected, and that is when people who should not be elected get elected.”
Though many people are more concerned about bread-and-butter issues now, Fann said that it is impossible to resolve these issues if the system that is supposed to address them is broken.
“This is where Bersih’s demands for institutional reform become relevant.
“You can keep changing the government, but you cannot change the delivery of good policy if the system is flawed,” he said.
Bersih’s Voter Supremacy roadshow will travel from George Town to Petaling Jaya, Melaka, Kota Baru, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to educate voters on the need for institutional reform to improve the country’s governance. They are also hoping to increase voter turnout to achieve evident change. – The Vibes, May 21, 2022
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