Despite some 100,000 protesters turning up for the Bersih 3.0 rally demanding clean and fair elections in the country, the Election Commission (EC) will snub the electoral reform coalition, and even calls Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan a "destroyer of democracy".
EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told Utusan Malaysia today that the commission would not deal with Bersih again in matters related to electoral reform.
Wan Ahmad said the rally last Saturday was a "rhetoric game played by rioters who have been defeated in the democratic field".
He is quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying: "Actually, Malaysia is a strong supporter of the democratic system that makes the people the deciding force at the ballot boxes.
"Ambiga and her group of rioters have no locus standi. Moreover Bersih 3.0 is an illegal organisation. The stakeholder now is the Parliament.
"Hence, starting from this second, the EC will engage and seriously consider the processes of improving the elections only from the Parliament."
According to the Umno-owend Malay daily, Wan Ahmad sees Ambiga as just another activist, the kind he sees in other countries who just want to destroy democracy.
"I lived in the United States before and saw how some activists like Ambiga who tried to create chaos in the country.
EC deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told Utusan Malaysia today that the commission would not deal with Bersih again in matters related to electoral reform.Wan Ahmad said the rally last Saturday was a "rhetoric game played by rioters who have been defeated in the democratic field".
He is quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying: "Actually, Malaysia is a strong supporter of the democratic system that makes the people the deciding force at the ballot boxes.
"Ambiga and her group of rioters have no locus standi. Moreover Bersih 3.0 is an illegal organisation. The stakeholder now is the Parliament.
"Hence, starting from this second, the EC will engage and seriously consider the processes of improving the elections only from the Parliament."
According to the Umno-owend Malay daily, Wan Ahmad sees Ambiga as just another activist, the kind he sees in other countries who just want to destroy democracy.
"I lived in the United States before and saw how some activists like Ambiga who tried to create chaos in the country.
'We developed as a result of noble democracy'
"Indeed, there are some sentiments in the West that when a party is in power for too long, the party is perceived to have maintained its power through the wrong ways. This is the same perception that the West holds against BN.
"Whereas, if we study from the historical angle, we have developed from a backward country to the current stage as the result of a noble democracy."
But the foreigners and Ambiga fail to appreciate this, or chose to be oblivious, Wan Ahmad elaborated.
"Hence the EC takes the stance that after this, we will continue with our work and commitment to comply with the 22 recommendations approved by the Parliament.
"We will not deal with the destroyer of democracy again," he repeated.
And as for Wan Ahmad himself, tabloid Malay daily Sinar Harianreported todday that PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution will not apologise to Wan Ahmad and stood by his allegation that Wan Ahmad is an Umno member.
Wan Ahmad had earlier admitted to a charge that he is an Umno member, but later changed his tune, claiming that he has never joined the dominant party in the ruling BN.
Saifuddin told Sinar Harian that Wan Ahmad should furnish evidence to back his denial.
"If my evidence is wrong, show the real evidence. That is the first question. Which branch he registered (as party member) if not in Kelantan, or else I will consider him insincere," Saifuddin is quoted as saying.
The Machang MP noted that Wan Ahmad had changed his answers to the allegation.
"The reason given by him is very weak and unacceptable," he added.
"Indeed, there are some sentiments in the West that when a party is in power for too long, the party is perceived to have maintained its power through the wrong ways. This is the same perception that the West holds against BN.
"Whereas, if we study from the historical angle, we have developed from a backward country to the current stage as the result of a noble democracy."
But the foreigners and Ambiga fail to appreciate this, or chose to be oblivious, Wan Ahmad elaborated."Hence the EC takes the stance that after this, we will continue with our work and commitment to comply with the 22 recommendations approved by the Parliament.
"We will not deal with the destroyer of democracy again," he repeated.
And as for Wan Ahmad himself, tabloid Malay daily Sinar Harianreported todday that PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution will not apologise to Wan Ahmad and stood by his allegation that Wan Ahmad is an Umno member.
Wan Ahmad had earlier admitted to a charge that he is an Umno member, but later changed his tune, claiming that he has never joined the dominant party in the ruling BN.
Saifuddin told Sinar Harian that Wan Ahmad should furnish evidence to back his denial.
"If my evidence is wrong, show the real evidence. That is the first question. Which branch he registered (as party member) if not in Kelantan, or else I will consider him insincere," Saifuddin is quoted as saying.
The Machang MP noted that Wan Ahmad had changed his answers to the allegation.
"The reason given by him is very weak and unacceptable," he added.
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