Aunty Bersih
Her Story
Annie Ooi Siew Lan aka Aunty BERSIH
24 January 1946 – 23 march 2024
Alor Setar, Kedah
Work Experience
Government School Teacher
1967-2001
Taught English, Art and Geography to secondary school students.
Jelutong Secondary School
Convent Pulau Tikus
Convent Datuk Keramat
Anne Ooi (born Annie Ooi Siew Lan on 24 January 1946, Alor Setar, Kedah) became known as ‘Malaysia’s Lady of Liberty’ and affectionately referred to as ‘Aunty BERSIH’ as a result of an iconic photograph taken during the BERSIH 2.0 rally on 9 July 2011. A retired school teacher with the resolution to create a better Malaysia for future generations, she rallied not only for clean elections in the BERSIH rallies but also for various noble causes such as Goodwill walks and Anti-Lynas rallies. Anne got involved in causes worth fighting for, she helped in soup kitchens, reached out to refugees and the homeless and visited the sick and aged. She lived a simple life with minimal possessions and gave most of what she had away, a selfless soul to the end. She is a testament to the power of peaceful protest and selflessly demanding the government protect the rights of everyday Malaysians.
Salute Aunty Bersih
by ongtkhow
A face in thousands, unbeknown
A diminutive and frail lady, unrecognized
A stalk of white chrysanthemum, unappreciated
A lone voice in the multitude, unheard
A rendezvous not with infamy but Destiny
A determined walk for peace and harmony
A resolute stand for freedom and equality
A defiant march against oppression and tyranny
Bersih 2.0 Malaysian Lady of Liberty
Unassuming giant towering above many
Graceful tenacity shaming powers that be
Salute Aunty Annie! Viva Liberty!
Aunty Bersih, Annie Ooi
by Allan CF Goh
(Also Dedicated To Other Unsung Heroes)
Dear Aunty Bersih,
Your frail look belies your strength.
Despite being gassed, sprayed,
Your faith is firmly entrenched.
You dared the hardship
Of marching for a true cause,
Even though harassed,
Even though at a great cost.
Your constant belief
Of a better Malaysia,
Full of real justice,
Filled full of fair ambrosia,
Joins the people’s dream.
Your hope of a tomorrow,
Free of racism,
Radiates folks’ vision hallow.
You want a country
Of one-people, one-nation,
Suffused with respect,
Thriving with creative passion.
You inspire all,
To stand solid for our right,
In spite of foul threats
From sycophants of the might.
You are not afraid
Of going to the prison,
In defiance of
All the vile, racist poison.
Malaysians salute
You, deep in our mind and heart.
Together, let’s fight
Politics’ putrid black art.
United, let’s fight
Those nefarious corruption,
And cronyism,
And foul discrimination.
Through your example,
You have set the righteous tone.
Others will follow,
You will never walk alone.
- William Shakespeare
THE RELUCTANT HEROINE
By Farida J Ibrahim
At a time when the fight for fairness in Malaysia became more intense and the government’s response more unjust and violent, Anne Ooi burst upon the scene at the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, 2011.
Who can forget Hugo Teng’s photo of her? That compelling image – of a lone figure drenched by chemical-laced water, her face grim, her eyes shut tight because of the stinging pain, and some distance behind her the FRU trucks and police force – captured our imagination and ignited new fire in our souls.
Anne Ooi became our ‘Aunty Bersih’, epitomising courage and resilience. She instantly became the darling of the media and an inspiration to us all.
Fame, however, was not something she desired, unlike some leaders in our midst. Not at all self-seeking, nor in pursuit of attention, she wanted simplicity and peace upon retirement.
But there was a higher calling upon her life which went beyond classrooms. It was a call to serve on a bigger stage.
Anne knew the pitfalls of being well-known. She was cautious. She was wise.
At one Invoke dinner held at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, I had approached her to ask for a friend if she could speak at a particular organisation’s dinner. Her immediate response: “Why?” For her, the cause was more important than having ‘Aunty Bersih’ as the speaker.
She didn’t want to be used. She wanted only to be of use. She didn’t want greatness but it pursued her, was thrust upon her.
Our reluctant heroine championed many causes. She stood up for justice and freedom, for electoral reforms and betterment of the underprivileged. She was a bridge between different generations, mixing easily with all, touching hearts and lives.
She was also highly vocal in protesting with others against the obvious crackdowns on those who dared to speak the unvarnished truth.
At a night vigil held outside the police lockup in Jinjang in May 2013, Anne amplified the voices of three comrades the government had tried to silence by throwing the charge of sedition against them: Tian Chua, the then MP for Batu; Tamrin, the former Batu Berendam MP; and Haris Ibrahim of SABM, also ABU’s chief.
In the presence of watchful authorities, she waved her toothbrush in the air and declared she had that item, soap and towel always with her, in case she was arrested too.
She spoke truth to her listeners and called for courage: “If you have not killed anyone, if you have not stolen and you have not done wrong, you will not be afraid. You have to believe in yourself. If you don’t do wrong, you can never be afraid of anybody.”
“Walk proudly. Don’t run like cowards. If you can, you turn and face them. If they want to arrest you, put out your hands. Go inside Hotel Jinjang.”
Staying true to her convictions, she was ready when arrested two years later.
Her participation in the Black 505 Rally in June 2013 led to that arrest which included 32 others as well. The charge levelled against them: being part of an illegal assembly, demonstrating outside Parliament House. The aim of the group had been to enter Parliament to submit a memorandum demanding the resignation of the EC Chairman.
Thankfully, bail was posted and Anne lost her chance to spend a night in a lockup.
Her passing in March this year was a shattering loss to all of us. No matter her initial reluctance, she had willingly and daringly entered the arena of activism to give her all. In so doing, she had gone on to impact many in different spheres of life and influence.
For us left behind, it was a privilege and an honour to have had her in our midst. You can never forget a person who sacrificed so much, who put the needs of the nation before her own.
The work Anne got involved in – to build a new home shared by all – is unfinished. This we must continue to do, though the road be long, the journey hard, the adversity unimaginable.
Get Inspired
Grow Your Vision
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction.
Double click to edit and add your own text.
Salute to a courageous lady.
James Chai’s Post
Anne Ooi (Aunty Bersih) took her final breath last night. She was the first chapter of my book, Sang Kancil, and many readers’ favourite.
I wanted to write about the historic 2018 government turnover, when the longest-ruling coalition, BN, was defeated for the first time. I wanted to find a person who represents the spirit of the time—someone with courage, idealism, and an unwavering stubbornness that was necessary in times of enormous threat.
Then I saw the iconic photo of a grey-haired woman, walking in front of a sea of armed riot control officers. Her body was drenched from head to toe with both eyes shut in pain—but her hand clutched on to a chrysanthemum flower, taking a step forward at a time.
I asked around about this mysterious woman who abhorred attention, who never said more than a few sentences to the media.
Friends and family who knew Aunty Bersih had a lot of anecdotes to share about her.
About how she was a strict teacher with a loud voice, who paid her poor student to tutor her children as a favour, who regularly pulls the wild grass around her apartment, who was obsessed with cleanliness, who kept her hair short and her trousers thin to shorten cleaning time, who had tea with the homeless at the roadside, who danced with the blind busker to help attract donations, who asked hawker stall owners to lower prices. Who gave freedom to her children and told them “handsome/beautiful no use if you’re not kind”. Who loved her grandchildren to bits and danced with them and reminded them to always help the poor. Who left a few ringgits by the stairs, sidewalk, and between the fences so others who find it would be happy at the surprise.
When I went to her home at Setapak, she was a different person. Her legs weaker, her body thinner, her voice softer. She couldn’t remember who Aunty Bersih was. So I took the afternoon talking to her about this woman who became the symbol of courage.
She asked me to continue talking (“maybe I’ll remember”). Before I finished, she lifted her small frame and hugged me. I still remember the spotless furnitures at her home, the oscillating fan above us in the late afternoon, and her generosity of spirit that never changed.
Aunty Bersih was more than what I ever imagined. She was the persona I was trying to capture in Sang Kancil—an ordinary person whose small actions made an enormous difference.
Writing about Aunty Bersih was an honour of a lifetime. In a way this was the purpose of writing: To remember a life well loved and well lived, to remind ourselves what we are capable of.
But every writer who has written about others also know that writing isn’t just about documenting. Writing is an obligation. A part of their story becomes yours. And I am forever grateful to carry Aunty Bersih’s story with me.
I am a better person because of her. I pray for her generous family who inherited the best parts of her: Humility, humour, and a big heart.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-chai-a41891a8_anne-ooi-aunty-bersih-took-her-final-breath-activity-7178185299104083970-uZ1k