Bersih observers noted 35 offences committed in Malacca polls

 

Election watchdog Bersih through its on the ground and online monitoring has identified 35 alleged breaches of the Election Offences Act 1954 by various parties that contested in the recently concluded Malacca state polls.

Bersih said this time around it was only able to send observers to seven out of 28 state seats - Lendu, Gadek, Sungai Udang, Pantai Kundur, Paya Rumput, Kelebang and Bukit Katil - and so its findings may not give a full picture of the situation.

Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann said the Election Commission (EC) should reconsider its standard operating procedures for carrying out an election, aside from reassuring voters it was safe to come out and perform their duties on polling day.

"The EC has to show some independence and some innovation.

"We are almost two years into the pandemic and we are now asking why there is a lack of innovation," Fann said.

Findings from Bersih's observations, beginning from nominations on Nov 8 to polling day on Nov 20, were recorded in its election observation report released today.

Bersih chairperson Thomas Fann

Among others, the report recorded one incident of alleged vote-buying involving Perikatan Nasional's candidate Tai Siong Jul who organised a programme offering free oil change for cars.

With Covid-19 restrictions in place on physical campaigns, both Bersih and reporters on the ground had observed candidates starting their days with multiple breakfasts at different local shops.

Bersih noted that Section 8 of the Election Offences makes "treating" voters an offence, but it was unable to ascertain, through the candidates' social media updates, whether they had paid for all the customers' breakfasts.

On polling day, it noted that several politicians from BN, PN and Pakatan Harapan were found to have continued "campaigning" on social media, beyond the midnight cut-off time set by the EC.

This was on top of 13 incidents of ferrying voters to and from the polling centres.

Physical campaigning

Meanwhile, Fann noted there has been no Covid-19 outbreak linked to the Malacca polls and it was a sign that an election can be carried out under strict SOPs.

At the same time, he urged the EC to consider loosening restrictions for the forthcoming Sarawak state election, particularly on the ban against physical campaigning.

"Physical campaigns should be allowed with strict SOPs. I think that should be the way forward for elections from now on.

"We cannot allow Covid-19 variants to suspend democracy. If there is an essential service or sector, democracy surely has to be one of the topmost important.

"It should not be treated less than a factory producing rubber gloves," Fann added.

Nominations for the Sarawak state election will be held on Dec 6 and polling day is on Dec 18 - Mkini