IT is time for civil society to take a more direct route in influencing policymaking, National Human Rights Society (Hakam) chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan said today, lauding the move of activist Maria Chin Abdullah and analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan to join politics.

“The platform is different. It is a new strategy. Worthwhile taking the fight for free-and-fair elections as well as human rights straight into Parliament.

“Take these battles to Parliament and continue articulating views of those pushing for reform,” Ambiga told a press conference today where Maria announced her resignation from Bersih 2.0.

Maria is stepping down as Bersih chairman to contest as an independent candidate on a Pakatan Harapan ticket in the 14th general election, which must be held by August.

Ambiga, who is also former Malaysian Bar president, said despite criticism of Maria, it is time for civil society groups to do something more drastic.

“She will not be a push over. She will speak her mind.

“There will be brickbats, but it’s time for us to think out of the box to do something different to push the reform agenda.”

Maria said she would remain an independent candidate to preserve the voice of civil society.

“(This is in) keeping with my agenda, which is to reform. I should be able to have the space to put up my own positions, if there are certain controversial issues.

“Being in Parliament is going be tough. I feel having a platform as an independent will keep me focused,” she said.

Maria also agreed that the presence of Wan Saiful and herself in the Dewan Rakyat would improve the quality of intellectual debates.

“It is about time we bring quality debate. What we want are good policies and laws. We should be moving towards inclusive, well-debated Parliament sessions,” she said.

Maria took over the Bersih 2.0 chair from Ambiga in 2013.

For more than three decades, Maria has been a fixture in the Malaysian activism scene, with a focus on women’s movement.

In 1993, she married fellow activist Yunus Ali, who was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act in the 1980s.

The 62-year old was arrested under a similar law, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, in November 2016. She was held in solitary confinement for 10 days. – March 6, 2018.