Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein have been named as top candidates for Bersih’s name-and-shame campaign for appearing to condone political violence.

NONE The pro-electoral reform coalition took issue with Zahid’s tweet yesterday saying, “We shall move to the warzone to kill all adverse political intruders”.

They are also unhappy with Hishammuddin for failing to condemn BN Youth supporters in Gombak who shouted, “Chop off his (PKR vice-president Tian Chua’s) head” in his presence during a function on March 24.

However, the Bersih steering committee told reporters at a press conference today that they would first form an independent committee to handle the blacklisting in the coming weeks, and give both Zahid and Hishammuddin ( below ) the right of reply before blacklisting them.

NONE The blacklist is part of Bersih’s campaign to ensure that participants in the upcoming general election would adhere to their election and caretaker government's code of conduct, both of which were launched today.

“A name that has gone on the blacklist doesn’t have to stay there. The person concerned can come back and explain or rectify the situation.

Aim for a more pleasant campaign

“I think this would make this campaign much, much more pleasant for everyone, especially for the people,” said Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

The blacklist would be available on Bersih’s website once is it ready to discourage people from voting those who are listed.

The coalition hopes to monitor media reports and receive public complaints on potential violations of their code of conduct, before seeking a response and possibly add the offender to the list then.

Based on resolutions of the Interparliamentary Union, Bersih’s Code of Conduct for Participants of the 13th General Election prohibits hate speech, smear campaigns, intimidation, and foul language in campaigning, among others.

Ambiga added that the code of conduct would apply to all persons and the beneficiary of the offence would be held accountable.

“At the end of the day, they have to be responsible for all those who are working with them or for them, because the easiest thing to do - and it is being done - is for them to outsource the violence and outsource the smear campaign.

dap study book launching 070507 hew kuan yew “It is not acceptable to us. Whomever the campaign benefits will be the ones that we will put on the blacklist,” she said.

When asked if former DAP election publicity chief Hew Kuan Yau ( left ) would be blacklisted as well for his notoriously vulgar political speeches, Ambiga asked reporters for information about Hew and promised to look into the matter.

The second half of Bersih’s two-part document spells out caretaker government guidelines, mostly on prohibiting the use of state resources for party campaigning.

It also says that a caretaker government should not make any major decisions that would be binding to the incoming government, such as policy changes, significant appointments, major contracts, or announcing new financial grants.

“It seems obvious isn’t it? But it has been happening, as we all know. That has to stop,” she said.

When asked to comment on defence contracts entered by the government at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) last week, Ambiga said the government was not a caretaker government at the time, “strictly, legally speaking”.

Questioning the morality of BN's actions

“But I question the morality of doing that when you know you are going to dissolve (the parliament) in two weeks’ time,” she noted.

The exhibition took place from March 26 to March 30, and Malaysia had inked about RM4.2 billion worth of defence contracts there.

NONE To a question, she said the caretaker government guidelines being drafted by the Attorney-General’s Chambers would not render Bersih’s version redundant.

“Ours is redundant? They have not done theirs, how is ours redundant? It is a bit late isn’t it? If the guidelines are not ready by the time the parliament is dissolved, it is completely pointless,” she laughed, referring to the fact that the parliament has already been dissolved yesterday.

“But of course, if they could come up with it tomorrow, by all means.”

Bersih steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah ( above ) added that the Election Commission has previously said that there is no need for such guidelines, hence the committee has decided not to wait.

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