Holding on by fraud: 'Without reforms, we will stop next GE'

Getting wind that elections will be held next month, the government has been warned to brace for a major movement to stop the general elections should it go ahead with the polls before implementing reforms in the electoral system.

Civil rights groups Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia and the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement have both pledged to stage protests if the BN government dissolves parliament before the parliamentary committee for electoral reforms could complete its task.

According to MCLM chairman Haris Ibrahim, Malaysians could no longer accept BN’s attempt to stay in power by manipulating the system.

“We have received reliable information that Prime Minister will dissolve the parliament on November 11 to allow the 13th GE to be held on December 10, 2011.

"If it is true, we see this as another move by UMNO-BN to hold on to power at Federal or state level by fraud,” he told a press conference over the weekend.

Haris added that the BN would again be guilty of denying the people’s rights if elections were held now, before reforms were implemented.

He pointed out that the Election Commission had admitted the many malpractices in the electoral system, including its move to publish the names of 42,051 voters not found in the National Registration Department’s database.

“In Paya Jaras, EC also had removed 220 foreigners names which appeared on the latest electoral roll for second quarter of 2011,” he said.

Meanwhile, SAMM president Badrul Hisham Shaharin said the people were fast losing patience with the government for dragging its feet in carrying out electoral reforms.

“The country faces a crisis of confidence on its electoral process, that is now at its worst,” he was reported as saying.

Harakahdaily