Bersih Australia seeks right to postal ballot
(Malaysiakini) – While Bersih 2.0 in Malaysia is facing the brunt of police harassment in the lead-up to the July 9 rally in Kuala Lumpur, similar protests planned in Australia should proceed without a hitch.
Youth of Malaysia in Australia (YMA), the group coordinating the rallies in seven cities Down Under, expects the Australian police to be “very accommodating” to their protests.
Key coordinator David Yeoh, a Penang-born architect based in Melbourne, said the Australian rallies are motivated by the fact that Malaysians will be Malaysians no matter where they live.
“We are also using this opportunity of Bersih 2.0 Australia to create awareness amongst Malaysian students here to their right to a postal ballot.
“We believe it is very important that all Malaysian students – possibly 20,000 or so – are empowered to exercise their democratic right to vote in the next election.”
The following in an interview with Yeoh.
Who are the people behind the Australia-wide rallies?
I am working as an architect in Melbourne and pro-tem president of SABMoz (Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia di Australia). We are the Australian chapter of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia – a non-racial and non-partisan initiative.
SABMoz stands for the cause of freedom and democracy which can only exist in an environment where elections are conducted freely and fairly on a level-playing field. Until we can have clean and fair elections, we truly believe that Malaysia cannot step into its own greatness. There is a jarring lack of integrity in our national institutions as the very words that created our country have been totally ignored.
In the current climate of fear with the recent arrests in Malaysia, it is very hard for anyone to imagine that Malaysia truly believes in liberty and justice.
Unless we as a people take the stand to honour the words of our declaration of independence and in the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the right to the freedom of speech and the right to assembly peacefully, we lose the integrity to make a difference in the world.
It is in that spirit that we have Malaysians and friends of various nationalities committed to unite in solidarity with all Malaysians on July 9. In the same spirit, we call for the immediate release of all prisoners detained in relation to the mobilisation of the Bersih 2.0 rally.
We also call on the government of Malaysia to allow all Malaysians to assemble peacefully and to ensure that the Bersih 2.0 rally proceeds with full cooperation from the police.
We are also using this opportunity of Bersih 2.0 Australia to create awareness amongst Malaysian students here to their right to a postal ballot. We believe it is very important that all Malaysian students – possibly 20,000 or so – are empowered to exercise their democratic right to vote in the next election.
We invite the High Commission of Malaysia to engage with us in conversation on how best to facilitate this. If empowered by the High Commission to do so, SABMoz is committed to mobilise its network of Malaysians of all ages here in Australia to make it possible to have polling booths for Malaysian students in all major universities in Australia.
Are you worried by the warning given by the Education Malaysia Australia Sydney (formerly Malaysia Student Department of Australia)?
Personally, I am befuddled by the statement made by MSDA. Every Australian I have spoken to in the last few days have only deep admiration for Bersih 2.0 in Malaysia. From what I gather from conversations with Australians, we are part of a global village of nations, and Australia will not be whole and complete unless its neighbours are whole and complete.
In 1960, Malaya staged a walkout at a meeting of Commonwealth leaders, firmly standing up for the civil liberties of all South Africans and standing firmly against apartheid. From that point of view, in the closeness and interconnectedness of today’s world, the restoration of civil liberties in Malaysia is the concern of every nation in the world, just as apartheid was our concern in the 1960s.
The local authorities in each city have been kept aware by the organisers to the details of the rally. We are not breaking any Australian law in this matter.
How many rallies have been planned so far?
Our aim is to have a rally in all capital cities in Australia. As at the time of this email, we have confirmed rallies in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane.
We are in contact with Australian parliamentarians who are taking a stand for the Malaysian people and have received support from our Australian friends in our universities, workplaces and communities here. We call on all Malaysians to lend their support wherever they may be in the world.
Who are you be expecting to attend the rallies?
We are expecting participation from Malaysians of all ages, migrants who came to Australia decades ago, young professionals, post-graduate and undergraduate students.
We are also joined by Australians and our friends of all nationalities, whose lives and communities have been impacted by Malaysians they know. They will be rallying for Malaysians in Malaysia and for the cause of clean and fair elections.
Will the Australian police take action against your group?
No. In fact they have been very accommodating.
