Another Bersih rally has come and gone, but the journey towards fair elections and institutional reforms remains a long one, said the electoral reforms pressure group.

The movement's deputy chairperson Shahrol Aman Mohd Saari said Bersih will continue on this path despite the ongoing crackdown on public dissent, which saw four of the movement's key figures being arrested.

"We wish to proclaim that the fight for free and fair elections and institutions reform will continue.

"So we are here with four empty seats, in solidarity with our steering committee members Maria Chin, Mandeep Singh, Safwan Anang and Hishammudin Rais," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

"We hope they are well and strong and will continue the struggle. Even though they are not here, their spirit are here with us," said Shahrol Aman who has been appointed as Bersih's acting chairperson in Maria's absence.

Maria was detained under the pre-Bersih crackdown and currently being investigated under the Special Offences (Security Measures) Act 2012 as well as Section 124C of the Penal Code for alleged involvement in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Shahrol also insisted that Bersih has been successful in its goal to create a national conversation based on its five demands - centred around the call for prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's resignation.

This, he said, was based on the outcome of the rally as well as the pre-Bersih 5 convoys throughout the country.

Bersih claimed that there were 120,000 participants at the rally. Malaysiakini estimated that there were 40,000 Bersih supporters at its peak.

Bersih belongs to all, not Dr M

Bersih adviser Wong Chin Huat, meanwhile, reiterated that the movement belongs to all who subscribed to the same agenda.

"That agenda will not be taken away by any individual.

"We urge Najib's resignation because that is imperative for implementation of institutional reforms," he said in responding to claims that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had "hijacked" the rally with his appearance.

Mahathir made an appearance at the rally immediately after returning from abroad. 

Mahathir's critics have accused him of being a hypocrite for supporting Bersih 5, but had clamped down on dissent during his 22-year reign.