‘We’re right in taking to the streets’

Courts' decision to throw out Pakatan Rakyat's election petitions with high costs proves the system favours the ruling government.

PETALING JAYA: With Pakatan Rakyat’s election petitions being thrown out, a PKR leader today said the opposition’s attempt to launch post-general election street protests was justifiable.

“The petitions being thrown out by courts proves that the system gives an advantage to the incumbent (Barisan Nasional). So, we were right in taking to the streets.

“And that is why even Bersih has not ruled out street rallies to push for electoral reforms,” PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli told FMT.

Yesterday, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim said the opposition has yet to exhaust all avenues for seeking redress on electoral fraud.

“The strategy is still to boost public awareness. As in any democratic process, the public must be made aware of such national issues. So we need to exhaust all avenues.

“The battle in court and in parliament is still ongoing,” Anwar was reported saying.

As of today, about 10 of PKR and PAS’ election petitions have been thrown out by the courts on various grounds such as the failure to produce several documents.

But the costs awarded by the courts have raised the eyebrows of many when the Balik Pulau parliamentary seat petition was thrown out with RM120,000 attached to it.

On what other avenues Anwar was referring to in seeking redress, Rafizi said PKR is using the court and parliamentary processes to push for electoral reforms.

Rafizi also said they always knew that the move would not favour them but the opposition has to go through the processes to prove a point.

“Look at the punitive costs awarded. It does not auger well for the judiciary. I believe it is meant to punish the opposition for challenging the election results,” said the Pandan MP.

He added that the the high costs awarded will also deter the applicant from appealing as the cost of losing an appeal – if it is not the same – would be higher.

However, Rafizi said this did not deter them from pursuing the defective indelible ink matter in the courts.

Educating the masses

He added that they are also attempting to ensure the Section 9a of the Elections Act 1958, which bars judicial review of the electoral, is repealed.

“We will raise the matter in Parliament regardless whether the Speaker allows it,” he said.

Rafizi added that it is only with a thorough electoral reform will the system allow a level playing field to all contesting parties during a general election.

“And to push for electoral reforms, we need to get the people’s support. For that, we need to educate the masses on a continuous basis.

“Experience shows that the government only responds to us when there is public pressure. Take for example, the Internal Security Act. It was repealed after the public protested against it,” he said.