[UPDATED] Bersih chair Thomas Fann resigns despite uncontested win

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersih chairman Thomas Fann has tendered his resignation from his position with a two-month notice, despite winning it uncontested for another term, recently. 

In a statement, Fann said the election results from Bersih’s Steering Committee (SC) election for the 2023-2025 term indicated that a majority of the endorsing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the organisation rejected his vision and direction. 

This came after four out of five of the contested positions in Bersih – deputy chair, treasurer, and three committee member posts – were won by candidates led by activist Wong Yan Ke, who Fann said stood against the team he put forward. 

With 50 out of 60 NGOs participating in the election, Fann said it was a “clear message” that his efforts resulted in a “vote of no confidence”.

“From the official statements of the two teams that contested in this election, it was also clear that two visions of Bersih were offered.”

“My team campaigned on continuity to evolve Bersih into a People’s Institution, while (Wong) and those who campaigned for him pushed for a restoration of Bersih to its roots as a People’s Movement – presumably with organising protests as one of its main tool to connect with the grassroots,” he said.  

Fann’s team was led by outgoing treasurer Ngeow Chow Ying, while the sole member who won a contested position was the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs’ Aira Azhari, who placed third.  

While Wong’s team winning four seats from the nine-member SC did not represent a majority in the committee, Fann said the student activist still had the mandate of most of the NGOs.  

“In good conscience, I cannot lead a divided SC that is pulling in opposite directions or defy the will of the majority of the endorsing NGOs.  

“Neither could I go against my conviction and lead Bersih in its attempt to become a People’s Movement again, when I believe that Bersih’s future is for it to be an institution that actively and constructively contributes ideas and solutions to strengthen our parliamentary democracy,” he said.  

Nonetheless, Fann said Wong and his team deserved a chance to take Bersih towards the direction they see fit for the future.  

He opined that Bersih’s roots as a movement were only one of many channels in advocating reform, adding that other effective engagement channels have opened up since the downfall of Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.  

With many perceiving that Bersih’s goal for a regime change was accomplished, Fann said the organisation’s viability as a movement “ended” a day after GE14, thus losing momentum.  

However, he also did not attribute Bersih’s past successes to its SC or NGOs, and instead said a movement can only thrive with the support from the people. – November 19, 2023