BERSIH 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said she was still discussing the possibility of contesting in the next general election.

She said this in response to rumours she would run under the Pakatan Harapan banner.

“It is a serious matter that is still under discussion but one of the clear aims is to take the civil society agenda for justice, freedom, good governance, free and fair elections and human rights straight to Parliament.

“And to support this struggle in partnership with civil society organisations working on the ground. Once a decision is made, I will inform the public,” she said in a statement today. 

The Malaysian Insight today reported Maria is expected to resign within the next two weeks to stand for election at the polls.

Electoral watchdog sources told The Malaysian Insight she planned to contest a “safe seat” on a PKR ticket,  

Maria took over the chair from human rights lawyer and activist, Ambiga Sreenevasan, in 2013.

Last week, New Straits Times reported Maria could contest the parliamentary seat of Batu or Petaling Jaya Selatan, while Ambiga could contest Kapar or Segamat.

Ambiga, however, told The Malaysian Insight she has “no interest” in politics. 

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

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

Maria was arrested under a similar law, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, in November 2016. She was held in solitary confinement for 10 days. 

Wan Saiful Wan Jan, founding chief executive of Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs, is another candidate outside of the political sphere that is likely to run.

He is expected to leave PAS and join Bersatu this week.

He announced his departure from the think tank effective February 18. He was seen visiting Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya last week, but has declined to confirm or deny rumours of his defection. – February 27, 2018.