Pilihanraya (kecil atau umum) tidak membazir

Ikutilah pandangan daripada bekas Menteri Undang-undang yang kini merupakan Pengerusi kepada Yayasan My Future disini.

Catatan di Penanti

NIEI berada di Penanti untuk memantau perjalanan pilihanraya kecil (PRK) di DUN tersebut bermula 22 Mei 2009.

Kami telah mengeluarkan kenyataan mengenai Hari Penamaan calon disini.

Sehingga hari ini, kempen pilihanraya berjalan lancar. Poster calon-calon yang bertanding kelihatan di sepanjang kawasan Penanti dimana poster dan bendera dari calon Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mendominasi sepanjang kawasan DUN Penanti berbanding dengan calon-calon bebas yang bertanding.

Anggota keselamatan yang ditempatkan di Penanti tidak begitu ramai berbanding dengan PRK yang kami pantau sebelum ini seperti Permatang Pauh, Kuala Terengganu dan Bukit Gantang.

Jelaslah tanpa kehadiran anggota keselamatan yang ramai sekalipun pilihanraya kecil masih boleh berjalan dengan aman dan tenteram.

Walaubagaimanapun, kehadiran polis trafik untuk membantu para pejalan kaki melintas jalan bagi menghadiri ceramah-ceramah kempen pilihanraya amat dialu-alukan.

Akan tetapi tidak perlulah anggota-anggota keselamatan mengadakan sekatan jalanraya berhampiran dengan tempat ceramah kerana ini akan menakutkan pengundi-pengundi untuk menghadiri ceramah sekaligus bertentangan dengan semangat demokrasi dan kebebasan untuk mendapatkan maklumat.

Contohnya seperti apa yang berlaku apabila ceramah diadakan di Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat ADUN Penanti di Kampung Semambu, Penanti pada 25 Mei 2009 dimana pihak polis telah mengadakan sekatan jalanraya berhampiran dengan tempat ceramah tersebut.

Kehadiran anggota polis yang begitu ramai pada PRK sebelum ini dengan alasan melindungi ketenteraman awam diragui asas tujuannya.

Apakah polis sebenarnya bertindak sebagai pelindung Barisan Nasional (BN) atau dengan tujuan menunjukkan kekuatan politik BN?

Di harapkan dalam PRK akan datang, tidak perlulah lagi kerajaan membazirkan wang untuk menempatkan anggota keselamatan yang ramai kerana ini hanyalah satu pembaziran tambahan lagi kadar jenayah dinegara ini semakin meningkat.

Oleh itu biarkanlah anggota keselamatan seperti Polis menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka untuk menjaga keselamatan rakyat dan bukannya dilibatkan dalam politik.

Amin Iskandar,

Pengarah Eksekutif NIEI

By-elections a necessary evil, say polls watch groups

PETALING JAYA: While it may seem to be a waste of public funds, by-elections are a necessary evil, said election watch groups.

Malaysian For Free and Fair Elections chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noor said by-elections are part of the democratic structure.

“I think it is costly but I guess that is the cost of democracy and it is the people’s right to vote. If someone died, we can’t just replace him with the next person,” he said, citing Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai by-elections as examples.

On the case of the Bukit Selambau and Penanti assemblymen who resigned from their positions, he said it was probably the “gentlemanly” way.

“It is part of the responsibility of the assemblyman. They didn’t brush aside the accusations but let the people decide.”

Cambodian Electoral Concern from Asian International Observers

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has been invited by COMFREL and NICFEC to observe an important election in Cambodia.  Asian observers from 7 countries from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Philippines, India, Thailand and Nepal have clear expectation of observing a better electoral practice and democratic environment in the Kingdom of Cambodia.  ANFREL aims to follow up the effective participation of Cambodian stakeholders to reach their supreme goal for actual democracy.

ANFREL’s 2008 observation is the forth mission since 1998, the observers are looking forward to the 27^th July Election being conducted in a credible manner, with less violence, equal treatment between all the parties- opposition and ruling, majors and others, new and old.  A positive political development, free and fair poll as well as neutrality of the National Election Committee (NEC) can create a good image among the international community.   Meanwhile all party leaders and candidates should adhere to the law, avoid black campaigning, voter bribery and stay away from physical and verbal violence.  All stakeholders must try by all means to end the violence and bring justice to all killing cases over parties’ activists, supporters, journalist.

However, during the last few weeks, ANFREL observers have noticed that most media: TVs, Radios and local Newspapers have not maintained as much professional conduct in their work as expected.  Most have not been fair in broadcasting or writing the news of political parties equally. Information of candidates from ruling parties and opposition parties are quite imbalanced. Observers have requested the NEC to encourage more cooperation from all media to make the electoral environment more fair and democratic.
In line to local observation and international standard, the NEC is supposed to be the most respected body for all election, Guideline for the Media that was distributed on 18^th July, 2008 should be promoted in a high degree for serious implementation.  The guideline must be diverted to be an Order, if not a Reminder or Announcement.  All media are crucial for providing public with accurate information, they should be closely monitored by NEC and all stakeholders.  The state media must be a good example for private media; they should not favor any specific party or powerful candidates.   It is important to impose a clear punishment from the pre to post election period to the biased media and demand professional performance from reporters and journalists.

For further information about ANFREL observation mission, please contact
Ms. Somsri Hananuntasuk – Executive Director,  Phone No in Cambodia:  099378802