BERSIH: Abdul Aziz should resign as EC Chief

EC Chairperson Abdul Aziz met representatives from both the BN and PR. However, no substantial issues on electoral reform have been discussed. It was very much a waste of time.

This was BERSIH’s press statement issued on April 22, which was not reported by many media, the exceptions are The Nut Graph, Malaysiakini and Merdeka Review:

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) warns the Election Commission (EC) Chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof that his position would be untenable if he continues to act like a Barisan Nasional (BN) election agent.

BERSIH reminds Abdul Aziz that he is constitutionally duty-bound to ensure free, fair and clean elections, his job is not to prevent elections and by-elections especially when it looks like BN cannot ensure victory.

As elections — including by-elections — are core to a representative democracy, EC must not propose any changes to deprive voters of their right to decide who they want to represent them.

If the principle of “no taxation without representation” is violated, a government which collects tax revenue will be reduced to nothing but a mafia outfit which extorts protection money from the people.

BERSIH urges the EC to instead push for the lifting of Article 48(6) which bars an elected representative from re-contesting for five years after resigning from the seat.

Elections are like job interviews. An employee has the right to resign and seek reappointment under different conditions. Whether or not s/he would be employed should be left to his/her prospective employer.

BERSIH demands that all state officers observe administrative neutrality. If Abdul Aziz cannot control his partisan behaviour, he should just quit his job. He can then work full-time as a BN election agent or lead a lobby group advocating for the abolition of elections.

Abdul Aziz’s earlier statement that he will study the possibility of not having a by-election in Penanti — right after Najib gave the excuse of by-election fatigue — shows that the Election Commission is a parrot that echoes BN’s opinions.

Also, the Election Commission’s insistence on studying and deciding if a seat is vacant rather than accepting the Legislature Speaker’s judgment, in Perak and now in Penanti, is both partisan and malicious.

Lastly, Abdul Aziz’s earlier comment that the voting pattern in Kuala Sepetang was worrying was also gravely inappropriate and uncalled for. The EC’s job is to administer elections, not make patronizing, partisan and unsolicited advice on the outcome of elections.

BERSIH: Royal Commission on Electoral Reform after the General Election

This is the statement that gets Abdullah Badawi so worried that he sent FRU trucks to ‘lock-down’ KLSCAH.

BERSIH Calls for Royal Commission on Electoral Reform after the General Election

 

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) has no confidence in that the upcoming General Election will be clean, free and fair.

 

BERSIH is initiating a nationwide signature campaign during the General Election to back a memorandum to DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agong for the establishment of a Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER) after the elections.

 

BERSIH also urges voters to:

1. Come out to vote to prevent phantoms from voting on their behalf;
2. Sign the petition for the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER);
3. Record and document incidence of fraud, irregularities and misconduct so that they can be submitted to the RCER after elections;
4. Vote for parties that uphold the electoral reform agenda.

 

BERSIH: A Prosperous New Year with Clean Elections

5 February 2008

A Prosperous New Year with Clean Elections

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) wishes all Malaysians a free, happy and prosperous Chinese New Year. As the Chinese will traditionally clean up their home to celebrate the new year, we wish all Malaysians of diverse cultural background will take inspiration from this spirit to clean up the electoral process.

BERSIH wishes that the Malaysian economy may perform well amidst the volatile international economic climate and all Malaysians, especially the middle and lower classes, will enjoy higher quality of life rather than seeing their real income slashed by inflation.

BERSIH: Let’s Vow to Clean up Elections

This is a festive message issued on Thaipusam Day. I post it here for readers interested in BERSIH and festive messages.

****

BERSIH: Let’s Vow to Clean Up Elections

The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) wishes all Hindu Malaysians a joyful Thaipusam. May the celebration further motivate all citizens of multicultural Malaysia to clean up our electoral process which is marred by all sort of problems ranging from phantom voters, postal voting, mass transfer of voters, to gerrymandering and mal-apportionment.

Thaipusam is celebrated mostly by the Indian Hindu Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. The festival celebrates the birthday of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati. It is also the time when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could kill the evil demon, Soorapadman. The devotees of this festival make vows by carrying a kavadi to the Lord for tiding over or averting a great calamity.

Fair Elections: From Level Playing Field to Seat-Vote Disproportionality

I was invited to give a presentation at the “Free, Fair and Transparent Elections – The Way Forward” workshop organized by Transparency International Malaysia held yesterday.

Click here to download the presentation files.

I am more than happy if you want to adopt this for sharing in your own community. If you make any modification or adaptation to suit your need and context, please list me only as the main source and not the author.

Pesta Rakyat “Jom BERSIH” – Feb 23

Did you miss the historical moment of November 10 when 50,000 Malaysians gathered together to demand for electoral reform?

Now, dont miss this one – Pesta Rakyat “Jom BERSIH” (unofficial translation: “Let’s go BERSIH” People’s Carnival)

When? – 23 February 2008 (yellow Saturday again!)

Where? – Merdeka Stadium, Bukit Jalil Stadium or Dataran Merdeka

How? – BERSIH will apply for permit this time to spare the police an excuse to lock down KL

Why? – Because we will not accept anything but clean, free and fair elections!

(Photo: Merdeka Review)

BERSIH: Let’s All Strike for a Hijrah for a True Democracy!

1 Muharram 1429 (10 January 2008)The Coalition for Clean and Free Elections (BERSIH) wishes all Muslims a free and happy new year as today is the first day of Muharram, the month denoting the beginning of the Islamic Lunar Calendar of the year 1429. As we have made the resolution to advance democracy when we celebrate the Gregorian New Year, BERSIH calls upon all Malaysians to join force in celebrating the Hijrah New Year, to usher Malaysia to a higher plane in democracy and to enhance the freedom, rights and well-beings of all Malaysians.

BERSIH: Does Abdullah dare to invite international observers for elections?

Mahathir invited international observers for the 1990 elections. Does Abdullah (or Khairy?) dare to do the same for the looming elections in 2008?

BERSIH challenges EC and Government to invite international observers

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) challenges the Election Commission (EC) and Government to invite international observers to observe and monitor the upcoming General Election.

Go, Rashid, go!

“What sort of Election Commission administers elections just so that one party can participate and win hands-down?” BERSIH has called upon the Election Commission (EC) Chairman to resign over his inappropriate statement to challenge the opposition parties to boycott the elections if they doubted the integrity of elections and EC. (the full statement with latest evidence of electoral frauds below.)

If Dr Chua Soi Lek can resign over his private misconduct, is it not the time for Tan Sri Rashid to also do the honourable thing to own up for his contempt of Constitution? The Election Commission is way more important to the democracy of Malaysia and needs more clean-up than the Ministry of Health. Your job is untenable now by your own word and deed, Tan Sri Rashid. Join BERSIH in this call: “Go, Rashid, go!”

10 Years since Reformasi – Taking Stock

This is another reason to reflect and think as we step into 2008. It is the tenth year of Reformasi.

Reformasi has politically activated a generation of Malaysians. It has driven many to see the injustice in the system and demand changes. It has liberated the mind of many that criticizing or ridiculing politicians is no big deal. It has revived the tradition of street demonstrations and triggered cyber activism. Most of all, it has brought many Malaysians together to realize that they are on the same boat despite their differences in ethnicity, faith, culture, language and ideology. It has midwifed a new multi-ethnic party and a new multi-ethnic coalition.

But Reformasi is not without its flaws. If its promise was to renew Malaysian politics, its failure was clearly demonstrated in two developments.