The absence of Barisan Nasional from the Penanti by-election in Penang has given an unexpected but immense opportunity for all other participants to conduct and take part in a free and fair election for the first time.

mafrel penanti by election pc 190509 ong boon keong Mafrel regional coordinator, Ong Boon Keong, called on all contesting parties in Penanti, especially Pakatan Rakyat, to practise what they always profess and capitalise on BN’s absence to demonstrate on how to compete in an electoral process under a cordial and non-intimidating atmosphere.

All this while, he said, Malaysians did not enjoy a free and fair election due to the presence of BN, its gigantic election machinery and government apparatus.

He indicated that the federal ruling coalition had been the biggest culprit in breaching all electoral rules and regulations in all elections.

"We have documented evidence, photographs and video footages to prove that BN had been the biggest culprit in bending all electoral laws," he told a press conference at Mafrel operations room in Bukit Indera Muda, Penanti.

The BN supreme council decided yesterday not to contest the Penanti by-election, which is being held following the resignation of incumbent PKR elected representative, former Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin on April 16.

PKR to field deputy state chief

Nomination falls this Saturday and polling is on May 31, giving all competing parties a eight-day campaign period.

PKR will field its deputy state chief Mansor Othman as Pakatan candidate, while businessman Mohd Saberi Othman and former PKR state women chief Aminah Abdullah have announced their desire to contest as independent candidates.

Being the ruling party in Penang, Mafrel hopes Pakatan would not do a ‘BN’ by misusing state government machineries.

"We really hope that Pakatan would practise what it preached, that is to conduct a free and fair electoral process under a friendly political environment," said Ong.

mafrel penanti by election pc 190509 jamaluddin abdullah Meanwhile, Penang Mafrel chief Jamaluddin Abdullah has criticised the Election Commission for reversing its earlier decision to disallow competing parties to set up electoral booths (pondok panas) during polling day.

Following a meeting with a Pakatan delegation, the EC is now allowing competing parties to set up the booths at a 50-metre distance from polling stations in the Penanti by-election, which Mafrel criticises as against the basic principle of a free and fair election.

"Electoral booths by competing parties indicate active campaigning and an intimidating atmosphere during polling day.

EC to get protest note on electoral booths

"Malaysia seems to be the only country that allows active campaigning on polling day.

"Voters should be allowed to cast their ballots under a peaceful and friendly atmosphere. Their rights should be protected at all times,” said Jamaluddin, adding that Mafrel would submit a protest note to EC by today on the issue.

election day machap by election 120407 polling booth When EC originally disallowed erection of electoral booths for Penanti by-election, Pakatan leaders protested arguing that BN was sure to infringe the ruling.

They recalled that EC banned pondok panas in the 2004 general election, only to lift it before the polling day without informing non-Barisan Nasional parties.

Pakatan leaders have also stressed the electoral booths were merely free service provided by political parties to all voters.

However, Jamaluddin argued since the EC would provide electoral booths for voters to check their status, it was needless for political parties to set up one.

With BN’s absence this time, he called on all parties not to set up the electoral booths to create a non-intimidating atmosphere for the voters to exercise their rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.