Overseas Malaysians show solidarity with Bersih 5

KUALA LUMPUR: A number of Malaysians in Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Britain and other countries held gatherings to show solidarity with Bersih 5.

Global Bersih claimed that 65 cities around the world took part in Bersih 5.

Public relations consultant Faizal Hamssin, 27, who was visiting friends in Melbourne, said he went to the Bersih gathering at Federation Square “just to check it out”.

“There was a multi-racial crowd. Many students, too,” he said.

“The crowd was chanting ‘the rakyat united, will never be defeated’,” he said when contacted.

He said the speakers at the event spoke about corruption, the electoral redelineation and the importance for Malaysians in Melbourne to register and vote in the next general election.

In Canberra, Malaysians held a picnic gathering at Nara Park in support of Bersih 5.

Global Bersih Canberra said the event attracted both the Malaysian diaspora and university students.

“This is the fourth time Malaysians in Canberra are participating in the global Bersih movement,” it said.

Malaysians in Perth also gathered, waving Malaysian flags and carrying placards.

“#bersih5 the foundation of #freedom is U-N-I-T-Y,” tweeted @bersihperth. We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided,” it said.

Twitter user @AKPeaceAction posted a photo of Bersih supporters in Auckland, New Zealand.

“We stand with the people of Malaysia in their struggle for true democracy and freedom of speech,” tweeted @AKPeaceAction.

Despite the haze in Shanghai, Bersih supporters gathered at The Bund.

“They believe the haze will eventually be gone and Malaysia will bring back its glory one day,” said Bersih Shanghai in a statement.

The group said that Malaysians who were living overseas would always love their home country.