Samad Said made Bersih co-chairman
(The Malaysian Insider) – National laureate Datuk A. Samad Said will be named Bersih’s new co-chairman today in a move to add some weight to the electoral reform coalition’s fight for fair and clean elections.
Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider that the coalition will make a formal announcement of the writer and poet’s appointment at a press conference today at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).
“Yes. I confirm that but we also have some other announcements,” she said when asked whether Samad’s appointment had been made official.
The 76-year old, best known for his novel “Salina”, declined to confirm the matter, but said that he was busy with “major plans” for Bersih.
“I cannot say or confirm anything, but there will be an announcement, come and you will see,” he told The Malaysian Insider yesterday.
The white-haired and bearded literary icon drew nationwide attention after his poem “Unggun Bersih”, read at the launch of Bersih 2.0, earned him a trip to the police station for questioning.
He was also among the thousands of Malaysians who braved the streets of the city capital on July 9 to demand a fair and clean elections process.
