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Bersih supporters gather in Singapore

120 people in Singapore joined others from around the world in a peaceful Bersih rally. (AFP file photo)
120 people in Singapore joined others from around the world in a peaceful Bersih rally. (AFP file photo)

Some 120 Bersih supporters here in Singapore joined their fellow Malaysians rallying in Kuala Lumpur by gathering at the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park on Saturday afternoon.

Clad in hues of yellow -- Bersih's colour -- the crowd of mostly young people sat around the grass in small groups for about two hours, discussing the rally in Kuala Lumpur and checking their mobile phones for the latest updates, reported The Straits Times.

One of the organisers, businessman C.P. Zhang, 55, described the gathering as a "picnic", where no speeches were made and no banners displayed.

Many spent their time stencilling the words "Bersih" on their umbrellas and T-shirts, and the group dispersed at around 4pm after taking a group photograph.

The gathering was one of many such rallies held in 20 cities across the world as part of Bersih's campaign for electoral reform in Malaysia.

Thousands of Malaysians living or working in Australia, Japan, France, United States and South Korea showed their support in quiet gatherings and rallies in public squares, parks and in front of Malaysian missions.

The protests were largely peaceful, and some even drew support from local bystanders and activists.

80 Malaysians marched through the city centre in Hong Kong, chanting slogans as they submitted a memorandum to the Malaysian consulate.

"We Malaysians residing in Hong Kong support the Bersih 2.0 call for free and fair elections," said spokesman Brandon Tan, condemning the violence by Malaysian police.

"They should learn from the Hong Kong police. They escorted us, helped us and gave us guidance as we marched through the city," said the 36-year-old.

Australia also saw large support for the cause with hundreds turning up in public squares and in front of Malaysian missions in several cities including Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

In South Korea, some 30 Malaysians wore yellow T-shirts, waved banners and chanted pro-reform slogans at the Gwanghwamun intersection in the heart of Seoul.

"We strongly condemn the crackdown," said Ms Thency Guna-sekaran.