Gerakan committed electoral offence: DAP complains to EC

comments     Kevin Tan     Published     Updated

DAP today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging electoral misconduct by Barisan Nasional in the ongoing Ketari state seat by-election campaign.

In a memorandum addressed to EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, the opposition party claimed that Gerakan vice-president Dr Kang Chin Seng made a baseless allegation that smeared the opposition when he linked PAS with the so-called Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM).

The accusation against PAS has indirectly affected DAP as an opposition party, said DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, adding that any allegation linking a political party with violence and crime must be supported with proof.

Chinese-language daily China Press yesterday reported Kang as saying that the people should be careful with the opposition because they have links with the KMM.

The Gerakan leader had implied that there was a link between PAS and the KMM as the partys spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mats son, Nik Adli, is currently detained under the ISA for his alleged involvement in KMM.

The memorandum was presented to EC secretary Wan Ahmad Wan Omar at a meeting between EC officials and six DAP members of Parliament, including Kerk, at the commissions office in Putrajaya today.

Wan Ahmad assured DAP that the memorandum will be submitted to the EC chairperson, adding that the matter is likely to be discussed at an EC meeting scheduled tomorrow.

In the memorandum, Kerk also said he received a complaint from a reliable source that the press was subjected to a briefing session at an Information Ministry office in Kampung Baru Ketari.

According to Kerk, the reporters were advised to downplay certain issues such as the Damansara Chinese primary school and the vision school.

Dinner for voters

The DAP leader also highlighted the fact that Barisan Nasional has planned and organised free dinners for the people of Ketari in the run-up to the by-election this Sunday. The memorandum listed the venues and time of the dinner functions.

Kerk claimed that invitation cards were distributed freely to members of social organisations and voters in Ketari.

Each dinner function has between 60 and 100 tables which can accommodate 600 to 1,000 people, he said.

Has the BN breached the election regulations which cap the expenditure of state election candidates at RM30,000 each? He asked.

During the meeting today, DAP also voiced its concerns about the ECs recommended amendments to the Election Offences Act 1954 which did not incorporate input from all political parties.

Not feasible

Wan Ahmads reply was that it would not be feasible to call all the political parties for a joint meeting because they will not discuss the matter in a calm and rational manner and come to a consensus at the end of the day.

However, he assured DAP that the commission had taken into consideration the wishes and sentiments of various political parties before making the recommendations.

Nevertheless, Kerk countered that EC which is independent should be seen as playing its role by inviting the political parties for a meeting to obtain their feedback regardless of whether everyone will come to any consensus.

Whether or not we can achieve a consensus is a different thing. But in your role as independent referee, this is something you should do, he said.

The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002 which was tabled for first reading two weeks ago, has among others, proposed to increase the limit on the expenditure of a candidate or agent in an election from RM50,000 to RM200,000 for a parliamentary seat and from RM30,000 to RM100,000 for state seat.

For the good conduct of elections, the bill also introduced a new section to limit political propaganda activities, such as the usage of loud speakers on polling day.

However, under the amendment, an election candidate will be able to appeal to the Federal Court against the decision of an election judge. Currently, the election judges decision is final.



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