More questions have been raised about the so-called impartiality of Bersih’s co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan – a figure who claims to fight selflessly for free and fair elections.
It certainly seems strange how little effort Ambiga has made to call for an investigation into DAP’s recent CEC election debacle, despite calls from countless party members and supporters.
Over the weekend the MIC Disciplinary Committee Chairman Tan Sri KS Nijhar also said that Ambiga showed inconsistency when she chose to remain silent over the issue.
“All of that is a serious issue concerning the election free and fair, but Ambiga demurred, though only in the DAP party elections,” he said.
“Actually, Ambiga should ask the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to investigate and act against the DAP. The inconsistent attitude of Ambiga is damaging Bersih’s credibility.”
And this week Umno Supreme Council Member Datuk Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad added to the voices, suggesting that she should at least try to give some sort of explanation over her decision ‘to keep mum’.
“Why is Ambiga not questioning Lim Guan Eng (DAP secretary-general) for not allowing over 700 party members to vote during the elections?” he asked.
He claimed that her behaviour clearly demonstrated her own personal bias, thus undermining the cause of Bersih.
Bersih was this week accused by Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, the former President of Transparency International Malaysia, of being created as a tool to channel foreign funding for de facto Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political activities.
“Anwar makes good use of his international networking to get these funds. I don’t know whether Bersih leaders knew it or not, but Bersih is Anwar’s vehicle to receive international funds under the guise of democracy and free and fair elections,” he said.
“Bersih is not a non-partisan independent organisation. It’s Anwar’s baby.”
Understandably Ambiga was quick to lash out and condemn the accusations as false. If only her reaction to alleged Pakatan polling irregularities was as speedy.