EC: We don't need foreign observers
The Election Commission (EC) is adamant that it doesn't need international observers during elections held in the country because Malaysians should be proud of the electoral system and do not need a second opinion from foreigners.
The Election Commission (EC) is adamant that it doesn't need international observers during elections held in the country because Malaysians should be proud of the electoral system and do not need a second opinion from foreigners.
Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said international observers had different value systems that were incompatible with Malaysia's.
"Our elections are meant for our people, meant for our system of democracy... with this system, our people elect their representatives. The wakil rakyat (representatives) are there.
Selangor comes under Pakatan Rakyat.
"It is okay, what?" Wan Ahmad told reporters on the sidelines of a public forum titled ‘Bersih's demands - what is the Election Commission's explanation?'
He was responding to a question on why the EC refused to invite foreign observers to observe the election process and provide a second opinion, in view of frequent criticisms from civil society and opposition parties.
International observer groups are often invited to observe elections across Asia by election management bodies to prove that their practices are transparent and of international standard.
A question of pride
However, Wan Ahmad insisted that international observers would not study Malaysian election laws before passing comments and were therefore unqualified.
"They (international observers) don't know (our) election laws. They never read (our) laws. They don't understand our constitution. They have different value systems.
"Everything is different. They are foreigners. They come here, they see and they start commenting (and say) elections in Malaysia are wrong," he said.
Wan Ahmad said Malaysians would lose their pride if outsiders were allowed to comment on the country's electoral process.
"We should be proud of our election laws. Because of these laws, we have a very active Parliament. Look at Parliament now... 82 seats have gone to Pakatan. Never before has BN lost the (two-thirds) majority," he said.
He said that when he went to observe elections in a foreign country he did not name, he was admonished when he questioned the transparency of certain processes.
"Why do we need the British, Americans and Germans to comment on our elections? We go there, and they don't welcome us either," he said.
'Mafrel didn't fulfil promise'
However, Wan Ahmad said the EC recognised the need for independent observers, beyond party agents, and would be inviting local groups to do so.
In the past, a group known as the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) had been accredited as official observer, but it was not up to mark.
"We have given a chance to Mafrel, but it failed to fulfil its promise... they never sent us their report," he said.
The forum was organised by Institut Perkembangan Minda (Inmind) and attended by about 500 people, including representatives from Malay rights pressure group Perkasa, Perkasa Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung, pro-Umno bloggers and Jemaah Islah Malaysia.
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