Bersih 2.0 & 41 Civil Society Organisations : Formation of backdoor government undemocratic and a betrayal of voters of GE14

BEST FBKL : We agree with Bersih 2.0 and the 41 Civil Society Organisations

Bersih 2.0 & Civil Society Organisations’ Joint Statement: Backdoor Government is Undemocratic and a Betrayal of Voters of GE14

24 FEBRUARY 2020

Bersih 2.0 & Civil Society Organisations’ Joint Statement
Date: 24th Februrary 2020

We, the undersigned civil society organisations (CSO) are extremely distressed by the break-up of the elected Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that was voted in on 9th May 2018 during GE14 through the departure of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and the defection of 11 Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Members of Parliament. 

We view the attempted formation of a backdoor government as undemocratic and a betrayal of voters who voted for change. The Rakyat voted for Pakatan Harapan and its coalition parties based on their promises and policies in their respective manifesto. Such reconfiguration of the component parties mid-term through the shifting of alliances and defections has nullified the election manifesto of PH, the Buku Harapan. 

As voters, we are utterly disgusted by such political machinations by both the government and opposition MPs who defy democratic norms of responsible party politics. Parties are to compete with each other to offer the Rakyat meaningful choices, not to sabotage each other after elections and form a government that the people did not vote for at the general election.

We demand the following actions be taken:

1. All PH MPs who won on the PH ticket, but have changed alliance, to resign immediately as they no longer have the mandate of the Rakyat.
2. Failing which, we call for a dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections to be held to seek a fresh mandate from the Rakyat. We urge the YDP Agong to give his consent for such a dissolution.

We call on all citizens to voice out their anger and disappointment and make the two demands together with the civil society at this betrayal and abandonment of the mandate given to the PH government. They could express this through social media, writing to their MPs and even organise peaceful assemblies wherever they are. The formation of any backdoor government must not be tolerated and cannot go down without any form of protest. 

Bersih 2.0, as the lead issuer of this statement, will call for Bersih 6 if our above two demands are not met. 

Statement jointly issued by:

1. BERSIH 2.0
2. KRYSS Network
3. Monsoon Malaysia
4. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
5. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
6. Tindak Malaysia
7. Tenaganita 
8. Global Bersih
9. Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (MAJU)
10. ENGAGE
11. GERAK
12. Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
13. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
14. Gerakan Pembebasan Akademik (GPA)
15. TI Malaysia
16. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
17. Asylum Access Malaysia
18. IDC
19. Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
20. Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth (KLSCAH Youth)
21. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita
22. Foreign Spouse Support Group (FSSG)
23. Freedom Film Fest Network (FFN)
24. North South Initiative (NSI)
25. Sisters in Islam
26. EMPOWER
27. Women’s Aid Organization (WAO)
28. Community Action Network (CAN)
29. Pusat Komas
30. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
31. PATRIOT
32. LLG Cultural Development Centre
33. Baram Kini
34. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
35. Movement For Change, Sarawak (MoCS)
36. Oriental Hearts and Minds Study Institute (OHMSI)
37. Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM)
38. MyPJ
39. Our Journey
40. Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS)
41. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
42. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)

(updated 12.00am 25 February 2020)