Is Obama aware of the electoral fraud?

Anwar says Obama may have congratulated Najib but the US president may have not been privy to what went on in the elections.

PETALING JAYA: The United States Embassy here must relay to the White House evidence of electoral fraud in the recent 13th general election.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim made this statement today in response to Barack Obama’s telephone call to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday, in which the US president congratulated Najib on his success in getting the mandate from the people to continue leading Malaysia.

Obama also expressed his understanding and acceptance of the process and results of the country’s recently concluded GE13.

“I don’t think he (Obama) is privy to the fact that there is a huge feeling of anger and rage against mass rigging and fraud,” Anwar told a press conference here.

“I hope the US embassy will help facilitate all the relevant information and material,” he added.

Anwar noted that the US had also recognised Ferdinand Marcos’ regime in the Philippines and Hosni Mubarak’s regime in Egypt.

“Do you accept the electoral process where media is not free?” he asked.

“Do you accept the process where we question where our votes went to? Do you accept the electoral process where the electoral list is not clean?”

Anwar then said the phone conversation as reported by the local media may not be consistent with what has been issued by the US State Department.

“I am not privy to what was exactly said, but what is reported by the media may not be consistent with what the State Department has issued,” he claimed.

He lamented that during his days as deputy prime minister, it was common to cover up “phone conversations between leaders” that were not favourable to the government.

“What is important, is up to Malaysia to decide. Our task here is to respond to the popular expression and sentiments of Malaysians, not to other country’s,” he said.

A day after the 13th general election, US State Department’s Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell, while congratulating Najib on his victory in the “most competitive election in their country’s history”, said the State Department was aware of concerns about voting irregularities and noted that the opposition parties faced significant restrictions on access to the media.

“Addressing these issues is important to strengthen confidence in the electoral process. And so we call on all parties to peacefully respect the will of the voters,” he had further said.

‘Money, lies, and fear’

When asked to respond on why Pakatan was so accepting of seats won by their component parties despite claiming electoral fraud, Anwar said there has yet to be an accusation made against the coalition.

“We have yet to find one complain against the seats that they (Pakatan parties) have won,” he explained.

“In the places where we have won, if the seats are questioned, we are prepared to open up a case,” he said.

“So far, there is not one compelling case against the seats that we have won,” he added.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang meanwhile said Pakatan’s popular vote would have exceeded 60% in comparison to 51% in the absence of electoral fraud.

“Money, money, money. Lies, lies, lies. Fear, fear, fear,” he described BN’s “triple strategy” in winning the polls.

“If it was fair, our popular vote would have exceeded 60%. We would have won the majority of seats,” he said.

“This is the dirtiest election in Malaysian history. Najib is the only PM in Malaysian history that lacks legitimacy,” he added.

Lim also called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into GE13 to address the people’s concerns.

“An RCI should be opened to investigate evidence of electoral fraud. We are prepared to work with authorities.”