05/12: Bersih next demonstration on Dec 11

Saadon Aksah/ES
Harakah English Section

Coalition for a free and fair election (Bersih) is planning a second demonstration in front of Parliament here on Dec 11, to protest against a Constitutional amendment done "in haste".

Bersih steering committee secretary Faisal Mustaffa expects thousands of participants wearing yellow T-shirts to congregate in front of the building where lawmakers will be considering amending the Constitution that provided for the extension of Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman's tenure for another year.

The Constitution currently require EC members to retire when reaching the mandatory age of 65 but their term might be extended for another six months by the consent of His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Many quarters had accused the government of introducing the amendment to give the EC chairman a lifeline to serve for another year, in the event that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the King did not consent the extension.

The amendment is expected to be tabled for the second reading on that day.

Faisal said participants are expected to congregate at about 11am but said that there would not be a march involved this time compared to the demonstration on Nov 10, when participants assembled and marched to the National Palace with their demands for a free and fair elections.