KUALA LUMPUR: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) will continue as a social movement and a political pressure group.
Its chairman Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said the group's ultimate aim is to implement the reform agenda and ensure that it is materialised.
"We will continue our efforts on the streets and, at the same time, we always keep our doors open for communication with the government, opposition MPs and independents. We play our role in both ways.
"There has been debate among non-governmental organisations and others about transforming Bersih into a political party.
"While there have been public suggestions for this, we currently believe Bersih should remain a social movement and a pressure group… we have no interest in becoming a political party," he told reporters at the 2024 Bersih Congress today.
Faisal was responding to a question from an attendee who suggested that Bersih should evolve into a political party.
When asked if Bersih would take to the streets to push for reforms, he said the street demonstrations are only some of the tools that Bersih can use.
Faisal admitted that post-Covid-19, public engagement often happens on social media, making it challenging to rally the online momentum into a physical movement and gathering.
"But if the government fails to implement its reform agenda, we are prepared to mobilise the people to maintain momentum and pressure the government (to speed up the promised reforms)," he said.
However, he did not specify a timeline for the government to fulfil the agenda.
Faisal added that before street protests could be called, there is a need to educate and engage the public on the importance of carrying out reforms.
In the congress, Bersih passed 19 out of the 20 motions that were debated by the attendees.
The rejected motion was related to the inclusion of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation data into the Central Database Hub.
Faisal said the issue was unrelated to the reform agenda presented today.
In the declaration after the congress, Bersih pledged to foster the spirit of unity among the people and to uphold the dignity and sovereignty of citizens as keys to the effectiveness of democracy.
It promised to lead the phase of democratic change after the 14th and 15th General Elections, which is an important point for the country's reform and democratisation agenda.
The coalition vowed to mobilise the agenda against the "disease" of forgetfulness so that the national reform agenda remains embedded in the minds and hearts of the government, politicians.
It also wants to play a role as an effective check-and-balance for the government on governance, justice and the wellbeing of the people.