An election watchdog has called on the people to step up pressure on the Umno-led federal government to reform the Election Commission and bring about a change in the country's electoral process.

bn campaign material 081009 suara bagan pinang newsletter Without strong public pressure, said BK Ong from the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), the government and EC were unlikely to improve the balloting system.

Ong said civil society cannot leave it entirely to the political parties to transform the country's polling system to a free and fair election

"History shows political reforms and changes take place only due to citizenry uprising and pressure, not through political parties or change in ruling parties," he told Malaysiakini.

He chided opinions suggesting that a change in Putrajaya would bring about the desired changes to the electoral system.

New gov't, old EC story

"It's just wishful thinking to say that all would be well once Pakatan Rakyat had taken over from Barisan Nasional. It's a wrong approach towards effecting reforms."

NONE "Often it is not the case because politicians would prefer to maintain the status quo favouring them," Ong cautioned.

He said the country's electoral system was outdated compared to many other countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, India and Pakistan.

It was lacking in competency, transparency as well as enforcement.

"We hear the same complaints for more than 50 years, which means the EC had never been bothered to rectify public grouses for nearly five decades," he said.

He cited complaints of phantom voters, postal votes, election bribes, misuse and abuse of government machinery have steadfastly remained unresolved for half century.

Ong said firstly, the EC should report directly to the Parliament not to the Prime Minister's Department.

Second, a parliamentary watchdog should be constituted to monitor the EC.

The watchdog, he said, should comprise mostly independent individuals of high public esteem.

Ong cited Indonesia as an example where the government had registered a parliamentary watchdog to monitor the EC.

"This change can only take place if the people exert more pressure on the EC and the government to reform."

Inconsistent EC criticism s

Ong also criticised politicians for not being consistent and pro-active in their campaigns to bring reforms to the EC and the country's election process.

He pointed out that BN and Pakatan leaders have generally complained about the EC only when their campaigns and chances of winning seats were affected.

NONE Ong suggested that the country's citizens should move as a collective unit to exert pressure on the EC and the current government to reform the polling system.

"Election watchdogs, civil society groups, individual leaders, media and activists all have responsibilities to pressure the authorities to carry out the reforms."

"It must be a united, sustainable and constant pressure," insisted Ong.

On Bagan Pinang, the Mafrel coordinator said the EC ban on Pakatan from using campaign materials or organising rallies in the by-election was detrimental to the country's progress towards having free and fair elections.

He said the EC had no right whatsoever to impose the ban on Pakatan on technical grounds because political parties are all registered with the Registrar of Society, not under the commission.

Moreover, he said it shall be a political decision, not an administrative one, on whether Pakatan should be registered or not.

"What's so important about registration anyway? It may allow the coalition to use a common election symbol, that's all," he said.

In the contest, Umno's Isa Samad faces Zulkefly Mohd Omar of PAS in a straight fight.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is on Sunday.