Third NGO rejects EC invite as GE13 observer

The Election Commission's (EC) efforts to form a local election observer team was dealt yet another blow after yet another reputable organisation pulled out from the scheme.

In a press statement today, Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) said it will decline the EC's invitation to be a election observer on grounds that it cannot agree with its terms of reference for observers.

TI-M is the third group to decline the invitation after The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) and election monitoring NGO National Institute for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (NIEI).

TI-M secretary-general Josie M Fernandez (right) said the EC was informed of the decision on Jan 4.

She said TI-M had urged the commission to ensure that all rules imposed on accredited observers, as well as the process of accrediting the observers, comply with international standards and norms.

“TI-M expressed reservations (during meetings) on some of the terms of reference set by the EC on domestic election observers,” she said.

However, she did not elaborate on the reservations as TI-M had agreed to be bound by confidentiality in order to promote free and frank discussions with the EC.

Invite Mafrel too

TI-M also suggested that the EC engage other groups such as Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), should have a role in election observation work due to their "experience and credibility with the public".

Despite rejecting the invitation, TI-M said it would be willing to engage with the EC in the future on election law reform. 

"TI-M further calls on the EC to ensure that the whole process of election observation adheres to international standards and norms, in order to restore the credibility of the election process in the eyes of the Malaysian public and the international community," said Fernandez.

Critics have claimed that the stifling rules imposed on election observers - such as a gag order preventing observers from addressing the press - were not in line with international standards.

Others claim that the EC was manipulating civil society groups tolegitimise its conduct of the elections. 

For example, NIEI - which has observed elections across Asia - noted that there was no legal framework for election observers and the EC were drawing up rules on an ad hoc basis, unlike other countries such as Bangladesh.

Other think-tanks invited by the EC are Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) and independent pollster Merdeka Centre. A recent addition to the list is Majlis Belia Malaysia (MBM).