KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Annie Ooi Siew Lan, the retired teacher dubbed “Aunty Bersih”, challenged today the polls review panel’s sincerity to electoral reform and vowed to show it her list of how to fix the system in the next seven days.The slight, skinny 65-year-old became an accidental icon when she was pictured battling chemical-laced water cannons and tear gas shot by the police into the locked-down capital city to join in the Bersih 2.0 march on July 9 for cleaner elections.
She stunned the parliamentary select committee (PSC) today with her forthright manner from the start when she demanded the “vote to be given to everyone 21 years old and above.”
To this, she cited as examples nurses, doctors, soldiers and policemen on duty on polling day.
“We don’t want any more corruption,” said the short-haired woman dressed in a pale yellow top reminiscent of the Bersih T-shirt she wore on July 9. The coalition of 62 civil societies has adopted yellow as its colour.
The nine-man PSC appeared perplexed by Ooi’s statement.
Its chair, Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, explained that it was the panel’s aim and asked her for suggestions, which appeared to vex Ooi.
“There are eight demands out there. Loud and clear. I’ve no need to repeat them,” she said, referring to Bersih 2.0’s list of demands.
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