Bersih preliminary report finds the EC responsible for 10 electoral crimes in GE14 and the electoral reform group has urged Malaysians to turn up to vote in huge numbers to overcome alleged fraud and manipulation.
- Go yellow to show solidarity
- EC chief had assured overseas ballot papers would make it back in time, but looks unlikely in many instances
- Nur Jazlan dismissive of overseas voters, saying they won’t change any result
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) yesterday announced its preliminary findings on the integrity of the electoral process and system.
Shahrul Aman also said the EC has failed the voters and has not upheld the integrity of the elections.
“Bersih 2.0 concludes that EC of Malaysia has failed to command public confidence in managing the electoral process and system of Malaysia, in particular for GE14. The seven members of the EC -Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah, Othman Haji Mahmood, Md Yusop Haji Mansor, Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Sulaiman Haji Narawi, Bala Singam a/l Karupiah, and Leo Chong Cheong have committed 10 serious crimes against the voters in Malaysia, and in so doing has ruined the integrity of GE14,” Bersih acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said.
The electoral reform group criticised the Election Commission (EC) for failing to ensure a clean, free and fair election even before polling day.
Bersih has identified at least 10 instances of electoral fraud committed so far. Among them are:
- Gerrymandering, malapportionment, and abuse of the redelineation process
- Failure to clean up the electoral roll and prevent phantom voters
- Failure to register eligible voters and causing widespread disenfranchisement of voters
- Suppressing voter turnout by deliberately setting polling day on a Wednesday
- Setting the bare minimum campaigning period
- Arbitrary disqualification and prevention of nominations
- Failure to take action against over 400 election offences allegedly involving bribery, vote buying, and giving treats and gifts, among others
- Making arbitrary and unreasonable election regulations
- Irregularities in advance voting and postal voting
- Failure to allow meaningful observation of election procedures
“Bersih 2.0 holds the EC responsible and guilty for the 10 crimes above as they are the primary body responsible to manage and conduct elections in Malaysia. Bersih 2.0 is compelled to do so to highlight the severity of the problems surrounding GE14,” Shahrul said.
He called upon all voters to vote against electoral fraud and manipulation on May 9, 2018.
“Although GE14 will not be clean, free, or fair, Bersih 2.0 believes that you will play an important role in the upcoming elections. It is now up to you. The electoral fraud and manipulation can only be overcome if you and all Malaysians turn up to vote as we have all done in 2008 and 2013.
“As a sign of protest and solidarity, Bersih 2.0 also encourages all Malaysians to wear yellow, tie yellow ribbon, paint your Facebook yellow two days before the polling day, on May 7 and 8,” he said.
Bersih 2.0 also lambasted the EC for not doing more to help voters abroad.
It said the EC’s statement that ballot papers would reach voters by May 9 and should be returned in time was irresponsible, The Sun reported.
Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng said the electoral watchdog had received hundreds of complaints from overseas voters saying they had not received their ballot papers. Through the tracking system, some had discovered that they would receive their ballot papers a day before or even after polling date on May 9, he added.
“We don’t have exact numbers but we have received hundreds of complaints of voters abroad who still have not received their ballot papers. Some said when they called the EC to check, they were asked to check with courier companies.
“The EC did not provide tracking numbers for the voters who had to call courier companies and check the delivery status against their names.
“EC cannot blame Pos Malaysia for this. They set only 11 days for the ballot papers to be sent out and to be received in time,” Yap was quoted saying.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah had assured that the ballot papers would reach voters and return to their returning officers before 5 pm on May 9.
He said EC was aware that some postal voters feared that their ballot papers would not arrive in time for vote counting, but assured the public not to worry.
Meanwhile, caretaker deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed today brushed aside complaints by overseas voters that they were not able to submit their ballot papers on time due to the short campaigning period for GE14.
“The number of Malaysians voting overseas is less than 0.1 percent of the population.
“It won’t change any result. Don’t get excited (over) it,” he said in a Twitter posting.
Nur Jazlan was responding to a Twitter user who had asked the BN candidate for the parliamentary seat of Pulai to comment on the postal vote process.
“Care to comment on the farce that is the voting process for overseas Malaysians?” said the Twitter user.
In the past, overseas voters could vote at the respective Malaysian embassies but this system was done away with in this general election.
Related reports:
May 5, EC on Jamal’s ‘Cash for Votes’: Tell It to MACC
May 4, Global Bersih Exasperated at Late Arrival of Ballot Papers
Apr 30, 5-Star Award for EC Head Hashim in Bersih’s ‘Hall of Shame’
Apr 26, Bersih 2.0 Condemns BN Candidate for Vote Buying
Apr 16, Bersih Lists Violations on Both Sides of the Political Divide Since Dissolution
Apr 3, Just 16.5% of Votes Needed to Win Polls Now, Bersih 2.0 Claims