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Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 called on EC chairman Datuk
Seri Mohamad Hashim Abdullah to resign if he did not explain the
commission's non-action against incidents of misconduct by all parties
contesting the Sungei Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.
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Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 accused today the Election
Commission (EC) of not understanding its own laws and issued a laundry list of
what it claimed to be misconducts during campaigning in the run-up to the June
18 twin by-elections.
In a statement, the group that champions a clean and fair
election claimed all political parties campaigning in both the Sungai Besar and
Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituencies had run foul of bribery laws under
Section 10 of the Elections Act 1954 with each offering incentives to voters
there.
Among the examples of bribery listed was Barisan Nasional
(BN) component Gerakan which purportedly gave out free food with alcoholic
beverages to voters in Kuala Kangsar.
Bersih 2.0 also claimed PKR, Amanah and PAS also committed
offences by offering free motorbike service and giving out vegetables to people
in Sungai Besar.
“The EC is suppose to ensure its officers stopped all
incentives (given by these parties) and not defend these act,” the watchdog’s
steering committee said in a statement.
It was responding to an earlier remark by EC member and
former judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Khalidin who was earlier today reported by news
portal Malaysiakini to have said there was nothing wrong in the campaigning
conduct at Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar.
Abdul Aziz reportedly said the EC found no wrongdoing in
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s RM500 cash aid to rubber tappers in
Kuala Kangsar nor Pakatan Harapan’s vegetable hand-outs to voters.
“From our point of view, we do not see any problem until
now, (we) do not see anything going against the (election) regulations.
“This depends of the interpretation of every party,” he was
quoted as saying.
Bersih 2.0 also criticised PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul
Hadi Awang for reportedly saying that voters will face the wrath of God if they
voted in the “wrong” MP this Saturday.
The group said making such remarks was against Section 9 (1)
of Elections Act.
It then demanded EC chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hashim
Abdullah explain these incidents or resign.
Source –Malay Mail Online-
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