ELECTIONS watchdog Bersih today announced its new steering committee for 2023-2025 following the conclusion of its elections.

There were contests for the positions of deputy chair, treasurer, and three committee members.

All other positions were retained without contest.

Thomas Fann continued as chairman. He was first elected to the post in 2018.

Wong Yan Ke was elected as deputy chairman after defeating Ngeow Chow Ying by four votes.

Wong, who is from Suaram, is a former parliamentary researcher and Universiti Malaya student activist.

Azmil Tayeb retained his position as vice chair (Peninsula) along with Ann Teo (vice chair, Sarawak), and Fiqah Roslan (vice chair, Sabah).

Azmil is a political scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia and an exco member of Aliran. 

Ann Teo is a lawyer based in Kuching with involvement in civil society organisations (CSO) for 15 years while Fiqah enjoyed a career in journalism before moving into activism through Undi Sabah and Tiada.Guru. 

Sadina Suffian was elected as treasurer while the three committee members posts were filled by Alexzander Johnson, Aira Azhari, and Haridas S. Krishnan Nair.

Bersih said in a statement the polling process from November 7 to 9 was conducted online to enable the participation of Bersih-endorsing CSOs outside the Klang Valley.

“It saw an active participation of endorsing CSOs and a return of 50 ballot papers out of 60 endorsing CSOs of Bersih.

“The voter turnout is 83.3%, the highest ever in the election of the Bersih steering committee. The ballot papers were opened and counted immediately after the closing of polling at 5pm on November 9 at the office of Bersih. 

“The process was webcast via Zoom to the endorsing CSOs and witnessed by five observers from endorsing CSOs physically,” it said. – November 10, 2023.