Electoral reform coalition Bersih 2.0 slammed the Election Commission (EC) and the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for electoral reform for failing to accept and implement most of its recommendations.

Out of the 41 recommendations made by Bersih, based on its eight demands, on election observation and constituency redelineation, the PSC in its interim report had adopted only four of the recommendations.

More disappointingly, Bersih said, the EC has only publicly committed to three reforms which correspond to its three recommendations.

“The EC’s apparent lack of commitment and pro-activeness in implementing not only Bersih’s recommendations but also the PSC’s recommendations indicates a serious lack of political will in facilitating deeply needed reforms in the electoral system.

“As a constitutional institution that is entrusted to manage electoral processes and uphold the rights of voters, the EC appears to be unwilling to fulfil its constitutional duties.

"The EC has therefore abandoned its constitutional role and responsibility to ensure electoral reform and good governance be practised and implemented before any election can take place,” Bersih said in a statement today.

pakatan convention alor setar s ambiga Bersih 2.0 steering committee led by former Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenivasan (left) , also compiled a table of comparison between Bersih’s recommendations for key areas of electoral reform, the PSC’s recommendations in its interim report, and the areas which the EC has committed to implement.

Bersih’s four recommendations adopted by the PSC are:

  • Thorough and independent audit of the electoral roll.
  • Allow eligible voters living overseas to vote as absent voters.
  • Adopt advance voting for those working in services sector.
  • Use of indelible ink.

Another four of the coalition’s recommendations were only partially adopted by the PSC, they are:

  • To display the supplementary electoral roll for 30 days, while the PSC recommended for it to be extended from seven to 14 days.
  • The principle and supplementary electoral rolls should be revised transparently after certification, and allow any voter regardless of constituency to make objections to the electoral roll without having to pay the RM10 fee, and without limiting the number of objections per person. The person objected to would be given 14 days’ notice to attend a public inquiry, instead of the present seven days. The PSC recommended that the objection fee and the limit on the number of objections be lifted, and ignored other aspects of Bersih’s recommendations.
  • To establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate all allegations of granting citizenship to non-citizens in exchange for votes. The PSC recommended setting up the RCI for such allegations made only in Sabah.
  • To extend postal voting to all eligible voters expected to be out of their constituencies and at least 250km away from the closest voting centre. The PSC recommended allowing absentee voting for East Malaysians living in West Malaysia, and West Malaysians living in East Malaysia.

The three reforms that the EC is committed to are:

  • To use indelible ink in the 13th general election.
  • Implement advance voting for services sector voters.
  • Auditing the electoral roll by engaging the government R&D arm, Mimos Berhad.

Bersih is also concerned that the PSC recommended the removal of the objection period for nomination of candidates, and removal of serial numbers on ballot papers.

The coalition said voters should be allowed to express any objection they may have over the candidates, and that the EC should not be given full discretion over the eligibility of the candidates.

As for the ballot papers, the coalition said the removal of serial numbers on ballot papers would open the possibility of ballot stuffing.

Instead, it recommended that serial numbers be maintained, but ballot papers be distributed randomly to voters to ensure ballot secrecy.

NONE Expressing disappointment over the few recommendations made by the PSC, despite getting numerous suggestions during its public hearings, Bersih warned that the government must do more to gain the confidence of Malaysians.

“The EC and the Najib administration must recognise a clear fact: Malaysians will not accept anything less than a thorough and sincere reform of the electoral process.

"The 50,000 brave Malaysians who marched through the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9, 2011, in defiance of police violence and arrests have made their stand.

“Any false attempt of reform - like the Peaceful Assembly Bill - will invite not praises, but only backlash,” Bersih added.