KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 2026, The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Nov 21 with a day-long programme highlighting two decades of public activism for clean, free and fair elections in Malaysia.
Themed “BERSIH 20 Years: Our Voice, Our Power”, the celebration will take place at The Godown Arts Centre in Kuala Lumpur from 10am to 10pm.
In a statement today, BERSIH said the anniversary would honour Malaysians, activists and civil society groups who had contributed to the movement’s historic efforts to push for electoral reforms.
It said BERSIH’s struggle extended beyond electoral fairness to include strengthening democracy, upholding justice and ensuring a more accountable government.
“Throughout two decades of struggle, we have recorded important achievements in nurturing democracy and improving the political governance system, although it remains imperfect,” the statement said.
BERSIH said the progress achieved demonstrated that public action could bring meaningful change, adding that the anniversary would serve not only as an opportunity to reflect on the movement’s history but also to renew its commitment to further reforms.
The coalition will also pay tribute to activists who have passed away, recognising their contributions, sacrifices and dedication to Malaysia’s democratic struggle.
Among the main activities will be an exhibition titled “20 Years of BERSIH: From Action to Action”, curated by Zikri Rahman, an activist specialising in democratic and social history.
The programme will also feature an insider account of the movement by Danny Lim, author of We Are Marching Now: The Inside Story of Bersih 1.0, as well as a discussion featuring four generations of BERSIH activists who have helped lead the movement.
The celebration will culminate in an anniversary event and the presentation of the BERSIH Award for Democracy, which recognises an organisation that has made significant contributions to supporting Malaysia’s civil society movement.
BERSIH is inviting civil society organisations, university students, media practitioners, activists, political parties and members of the public to participate in the celebration.
The coalition is also appealing to Malaysians to lend or donate memorabilia from previous BERSIH demonstrations for display at the anniversary exhibition.
It said the 20th anniversary represented a collective struggle for democracy that belonged not to any single organisation or group, but to all Malaysians seeking a fairer, more democratic and dignified nation.
The statement was issued jointly by the BERSIH Steering Committee and the Main Committee for the 20th Anniversary Celebration.
“20 Years Demanding Reform, Empowering Democracy!”
-MINUTESMY
