Give EC power to take action against electoral offenders, NGOs urge
Putrajaya has been urged to reform and empower the Election Commission by giving it the power to take action against electoral offenders, in the same vein as Indonesia's central Election Monitoring Body (Bawaslu).
As Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng said today, the EC currently has to rely on the police to enforce the Election Offences Act 1954...
Putrajaya has been urged to reform and empower the Election Commission by giving it the power to take action against electoral offenders, in the same vein as Indonesia's central Election Monitoring Body (Bawaslu).
As Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng said today, the EC currently has to rely on the police to enforce the Election Offences Act 1954.
"At this moment, the EC has to rely on the police to take action, they themselves cannot take immediate action," he said during a Bersih, Engage and Tindak Malaysia joint press conference in Petaling Jaya.
Yap pointed out that Indonesia's Bawaslu is an independent body which can take disciplinary action against –and even disqualify – candidates found guilty of vote-buying.
"We need that kind of power invested in the independent body (the EC), which is not influenced by the executive or any political party, so that it will take action fairly and equally against any offenders,” he added.
Yap also noted that although Pakatan Harapan lawmakers did not commit election offences per se in recent by-elections, abusing their government positions to garner support from voters is unethical.
“This is why again we are calling all parties and all parliamentarians to look into these loopholes in the Election Offences Act, it needs to be addressed and updated."
Read more: Bersih reveals Rantau election offences, chides minister for 'same blood' remark
Election offences on the rise
Meanwhile, Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann said that the last few by-elections have seen an increase in electoral offences.
"From Sungai Kandis to Rantau, there are probably over a thousand offences recorded, yet no action has been taken despite the many reports made by NGOs. Even the EC made police reports.
"We have not seen prosecution for a single case, what is the problem?
"Did the police investigate all the reports made? It's possible, but we do not know, because they do not update the public," he said.
The lack of enforcement, Fann (above) stressed, has resulted in a sense of impunity.
"All these political parties and candidates go about breaking laws with impunity. Can you imagine that with other laws?" he asked.
Tindak Malaysia representative Ku Kean Heng, meanwhile, said that politicians and members of the public are not afraid of violating election laws as they know that the EC is weak on enforcement.
Echoing the call for legislative reform to empower the EC, Engage exco Lee Wee Tak urged political parties to be more disciplined.
“We need good legal enforcement and action, so that our election can be free, fair and of a world-class standard,” he said.
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