Back Off From Myanmar S Sham Election Bersih Tells Govt

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The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) has urged Wisma Putra to withdraw from observing Myanmar’s upcoming polls, labelling it a “sham election”.
In a statement today, Bersih called on the Malaysian government to defer any plans to send election observers to Myanmar for its Dec 28 polling day, citing it as a political theatre to gain international legitimacy.
The group said that this stance was also made clear on Sept 15, together with several other international civil society organisations and trade unions.
“Bersih once again urges the Malaysian government, which currently chairs Asean, not to recognise this sham election, and to withdraw any decision to send election observers to monitor the 2025 Myanmar election, as reported by the media.
“The Myanmar junta is merely using it as a political theatre to gain international legitimacy, which will only lead to more civilian casualties.
“The election planned by the Myanmar junta does not meet any criteria for a free and fair election and contradicts international best practices,” the group said.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan visits Myanmar, April 2025On Oct 10, the Myanmar government claimed Malaysia has assured Asean’s support for its election slated for December this year, and has pledged to send observer teams to the polls.
Myanmar’s state media, The Global New Light of Myanmar, reported that Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, had conveyed the matter to Myanmar’s State Administration Council chairperson, Min Aung Hlaing, during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw as part of his working visit last week.
The election is scheduled to be held this year after close to a five-year hiatus since the military coup on Feb 1, 2021.
Arrests, bans, and death penalty laws
Bersih emphasised that the upcoming election lacks credibility and legitimacy, as the Myanmar junta has repeatedly demonstrated an oppressive, coercive, deeply flawed, and biased system that does not hold up to the conditions outlined in the report by the Asian Network for Free Elections.
The coalition said Myanmar’s military government had also arrested several key persons who successfully conducted the Myanmar election in 2020, including the chairperson and two members of the Union Election Commission (UEC).
Bersih alleged that the UEC chairperson was later replaced by a former military major general, who is aligned with the junta.
Myanmar’s State Administration Council chairperson, Min Aung HlaingAdditionally, political parties that have won over 80 percent of parliamentary seats in the previous election were also banned by the junta, which happened alongside the implementation of death penalty laws against their opponents.
Bersih also called for an immediate stop to the violence and oppression against the people of Myanmar and demanded the release of all political prisoners under the regime.
‘Mohamad must explain’
Previously, former MP Charles Santiago also expressed similar sentiments and said the purported election observer pledge is a “dangerous endorsement” of a regime that has massacred civilians, jailed political opponents, and bombed its own people.
Charles, who is also the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) co-chairperson, cautioned that if the meeting between Myanmar and Malaysian leaders did take place as reported, then Mohamad “owes” the public a full explanation.
“Mohamad must make it clear, now, where Malaysia stands: with the junta or with the people of Myanmar.
“At this critical moment, Malaysia cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history,” Charles added. - Mkini

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