KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — Several non-governmental organisations affiliated with the upcoming Bersih 4 rally today launched the “Bersih 4 Global Countdown”, a social media initiative that provides an avenue to the group’s overseas supporters to participate in the coming event.

To take part, Bersih 4 supporters outside Malaysia can upload photographs indicating the number of hours left on the clock before the rally is kicked off here next Saturday.

The campaign was launched today by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, spin-off chapter Bersih Shanghai and the internationally registered Global Bersih.

“We believe Malaysians residing overseas they eagerly want to contribute and participate in Bersih 4, but because they are overseas... therefore we come out with this campaign allowing them to also participate by taking a photo indicating their name, city and how many hours towards the Bersih 4 in Malaysia.

Advertisement

“We have a dedicated Facebook page for this countdown so we will post up their picture there,” Bersih Shanghai representative Johnson Chew said during the launching of the campaign today.

Global Bersih steering committee member Ivy Josiah added that the social media campaign will be coupled with several gatherings around the world, in line in Bersih 4, which will take place at public spaces, including embassies.

“During Bersih 3, we had 85 locations and 35 countries. For Bersih 4, we have 43 locations and counting, from 20 countries. I suspect it’ll be 40-something by this weekend time,” she said, which includes Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Jordan, among others.

Advertisement

She added that a global movement for Bersih 4 was crucial to ensure that overseas voters rights were ensured, making the issue of electoral reforms equally important to Malaysians outside the country.

“The work of Global Bersih is to ensure those living overseas who cannot return have smooth access to voting at the embassies.

“It’s not about standing in solidarity for that one afternoon but its also the long term reforms so Malaysians anywhere can enjoy these rights,” she added.

Josiah also noted that Global Bersih was an organisation registered in Geneva and that it’s committee members were Malaysians residing in the US, Australia, Switzerland, France, the UK, New Zealand and Malaysia.

The Bersih 4 rally, which aims to pressure the government for institutional reforms, is to kick off on August 29 and continue overnight in a campout in Kuala Lumpur.