After following closely the developments up to the polling day in Hulu Selangor I cannot hide my disgust and frustration with a virtually impotent and castrated Election Commission (EC).

When we compare the EC of Malaysia and the Election Commission of India, it would be very clear and obvious that the so called ‘independent’ EC of Malaysia is only a farce.

Basically it is subservient to its political masters of the day and the commissioner seemingly just waits for the rewards and hand-outs in the form of a well-paid post-retirement executive job.

And so every form of election offence can be committed and yet no action will be taken and the perpetrators do it with impunity. A case in point is what happened in Hulu Selangor where millions were spent, dished-out and promised during the campaigning period.

It was blatant bribery and corruption. Another factor which was obvious in Hulu Selangor was thuggery and intimidation with the ruling coalition supporters with black T-Shirts shouting anti-Pakatan Rakyat slogans at almost every polling centre.

The Hulu Selangor by-election was anything but fair. Perhaps I woundn’t be very wrong for assuming that this could have been the most corrupted, dirtiest, mean, low-down thuggish election which took place in our country in recent times.

And it appears that the powers that-be were also working in collusion with all the negative elements just to ensure that the ruling party wins.

Now, compare that with the EC in India – they are completely neutral with the commissioner vested with such powers that he is virtually a ‘hell’ even to the prime minister. The candidate is disqualified without any qualms if the EC feels that he has spent more than he is allowed in the constituency in which he is to contest.

They would not blink an eye to tell off the PM or anyone for that matter. One of the most prominent and no-nonsense EC head of India who comes to my mind at this juncture is TN Seshan who made then prime minister Narasimma Rao a non-factor and virtually non-existent.

But in our beloved country the EC engages itself in gerrymandering, transfer of voters without informing them and panders to the whims and fancies of the master without any conscience.

I wonder what the EC has got to say about the blatant election offences which was there for all to see in Hulu Selangor. The EC should not be such bootlickers and apple-polishers of the ruling party and, of course, their normal stand would be that they are ‘independent, neutral and fair’.

If the EC of Malaysia is worth its salt even a wee bit, then it should take its stand and prove its independence. For a start, it can do this by scrutinising election offences in Hulu Selangor and taking the actions deemed necessary.

If you, EC, are still not sure of your duties and powers, you can always prostrate in front of TN Seshan and I am sure he would give you a free lesson or two.