Bersih 2.0 acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said Yap’s appointment to the electoral reform group took effect from March 16.
“Yap will lead the secretariat in support of the steering committee to continue the pursuit of democratisation in Malaysia, especially in electoral reform and monitoring of the upcoming 14th general election (GE14),” he said in a statement today.
“Yap is no stranger to the protection of human rights and the fight for a more democratic and progressive Malaysia through clean and fair elections,” Shahrul said.
He added that Yap was executive director for Suaram from 2006 to 2009 and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) from 2009 to 2013.
Yap is said to hold a master’s degree in human rights from the University of Essex, United Kingdom.
According to Shahrul, Yap is no newcomer to Bersih and its cause, having been part of the Bersih steering committee between 2006 and 2008.
“Yap represented Suaram at the time as it was an endorsing organisation. He has also supported the organisation with logistic work during Bersih 4 and Bersih 5.
“Under his leadership of the secretariat, Bersih 2.0 is currently running two major campaigns to ensure the will of voters and the interest of the people are upheld in GE14,” Shahrul said.
He added that the campaigns were to promote institutional reform and for citizens to act as independent election observers and report instances of electoral offences and fraud within their polling districts.
The move to appoint an executive director for Bersih 2.0 comes after long-time chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah left the organisation earlier this month to stand as a candidate for Pakatan Harapan in GE14.