INTERVIEW Electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0, accused by government supporters of covertly receiving foreign funding to destabilise the country, is ready to disclose its funding sources.<br /><br />In an interview with Malaysiakinilast week, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said that the July 9 rally was a people's movement fully funded by Malaysians.<br /><br />"For the rally, it was entirely a Malaysian-funded exercise," she said.<br /><br />Besides allocation from the Selangor state government, Ambiga revealed that rest came from ordinary Malaysians in small amounts made through bank transfers just before the rally.<br /><br />Last month, Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim defended the RM15,000 allocation for the rally, describing it as his government's contribution to the "effective running of democracy".<br /><br />Although the rally did not cost the movement a fortune, Ambiga said that part of the collection was set aside for bail in case of arrest. <br /><br />Some of the funding was paid to the staff of Empower, an NGO which serves as the secretariat of Bersih 2.0, as well as allowances for other volunteers.<br /><br />Full story: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/172894
