Former US ambassador to Malaysia John Malott has dared Prime Minister Najib Razak to put his money where his mouth is and prove that UMNO "has never cheated in any election" by implementing 4 key reforms, including allowing foreign observers and the use of indelible ink.
In a hard-hitting open letter to Najib and sent to Malaysiakini, Malott - who is believed to have been barred from entering the country due his outspokeness - urged Najib not to keep reneging on his word.
"You say that Malaysia's elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people - and the world - might finally be convinced," wrote Malott.
"As a result of the developments on July 9, the world is now paying increased attention to Malaysia. In particular, we now wonder how free and fair your nation's elections are. We have learned that some of your country's citizens believe that Malaysia needs electoral reform. On July 9, they marched with a coalition called Bersih 2.0, and they called for free and fair elections."
"You responded by declaring Bersih illegal and suppressing the 'Walk for Democracy' with overwhelming police force. The world noticed your heavy-handed reaction, and it wondered why a peaceful demonstration calling for fair elections bothered you so much - so much so that you were willing to risk Malaysia's international reputation - and give your country and yourself a major black eye."
No reason not to implement
Malott called on the Malaysian leader to push through 4 easy to implement and effective electoral reforms. Outlawed polls pressure group Bersih 2.0 had asked for 8.
The concessions that Malott advised are:
1) Allow international groups to observe your elections. Based on your assertions, they will find nothing amiss, and their reports will give credibility to Malaysia's election results.
2) Allow observers from all political parties to witness the postal balloting that takes place on military bases. For years, the opposition has said that something is amiss. But since you say that Umno never cheats, I am sure that they will find nothing wrong, and you will be vindicated.
3) Let's put an end to all the accusations about phantom voters by using a simple, effective and cheap solution - indelible ink.
Your Elections Commission wants a super-sophisticated biometric system, but there is no way it can be in place by then - and many people worry that it can be manipulated. Indelible ink works - just ask the world's largest democracy, India. I don't think anyone has ever disputed the results of India's elections in over 60 years.
4) Finally, let RTM be truly independent, like the BBC and NHK and the public broadcasting systems in Australia, France, Germany, and elsewhere in the world. RTM does not belong to Umno. It belongs to the people. As long as RTM - funded by all the people of Malaysia - acts as the propaganda arm of the 25 percent of Malaysians who voted for Umno, no one can believe that Malaysia's elections are fair and free.
Reason for over-reaction - refusal to give up power
Indeed, Najib has disgusted a lot of Malaysians, both at home and abroad with his over-reaction to the rally. He and his UMNO party had feared it could trigger a wave of consciousness for social reform, and blaze a trail for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition to win. The next national polls is not due to be called until March 2013, but local experts say the latest Najib will delay is early next year.
In the runup to the rally, the greater Najib's paranoia and the more brutal the police crackdowns, the more fiercely the people rejected his leadership. On D-Day, July 9, some 50,000 filled the streets of Kuala Lumpur. They locked arms, chanted, and sang the national anthem. By then it was clear, Najib had mishandled the rally. A slew of global rebukes followed, and to save his dignity, Najib is insisting that Bersih had ulterior motives, and wanted to topple his government. The UMNO-owned Utusannewspaper even suggested that Bersih was the work of 'Jews'.
By now, all of the nearly 2,000 people detained in the runup to and during the July march, have been released. Six socialist leaders remanded under the draconian Emergency Ordinance for rekindling communism and waging war against the King were freed just a day ago.
Time is running out
Bersih chairwoman Ambiga Sreenevasan has begun a public debate with the Election Commission deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar. So far he has agreed to extend the 7-day campaigning period but refused to raise it all the way to 21 as Bersih had requested.
Sad to say, this is about all that the EC is willing to concede. Wan Ahmad has even insisted that he was powerless to implement changes and only the Najib administration could do so. Legal experts have said that this was a lie as the federal consititution clearly empowered the EC.
Hence, there is growing nervousness now. Some believe that Najib would declare a police state rather than to agree to reforms as there is a strong chance that he might lose in a free and fair competition. Hence, a recent round of calls both from within and outside Malaysia for him to pursue a wiser and fairer course of action.
"Governments that manipulate elections have lots to cover up. But you say that your elections are free and fair, so that means you have nothing to be afraid of showing to all of us in the outside world, not to mention your own people," said Malott. - Malaysia Chronicle
Malaysia Chronicle appends below the full-text of his rather hard-hitting statrment
An open letter to PM Najib
You say that Malaysia's elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people - and the world - might finally be convinced.
As a result of the developments on July 9, the world is now paying increased attention to Malaysia.
In particular, we now wonder how free and fair your nation's elections are. We have learned that some of your country's citizens believe that Malaysia needs electoral reform. On July 9, they marched with a coalition called Bersih 2.0, and they called for free and fair elections.
You responded by declaring Bersih illegal and suppressing the 'Walk for Democracy' with overwhelming police force. The world noticed your heavy-handed reaction, and it wondered why a peaceful demonstration calling for fair elections bothered you so much - so much so that you were willing to risk Malaysia's international reputation - and give your country and yourself a major black eye.
When you returned from your visit to Europe, you declared that Malaysia's elections truly are free and fair, and that Umno has never cheated in any election.
I am glad to hear that.
Because it means that in Malaysia's next general elections, you have nothing to hide.
Governments that manipulate elections have lots to cover up. But you say that your elections are free and fair, so that means you have nothing to be afraid of showing to all of us in the outside world, not to mention your own people.
Therefore, I am sure that you are willing to readily agree to the following proposals:
1) Allow international groups to observe your elections. Based on your assertions, they will find nothing amiss, and their reports will give credibility to Malaysia's election results.
2) Allow observers from all political parties to witness the postal balloting that takes place on military bases. For years, the opposition has said that something is amiss. But since you say that Umno never cheats, I am sure that they will find nothing wrong, and you will be vindicated.
3) Let's put an end to all the accusations about phantom voters by using a simple, effective and cheap solution - indelible ink.
Your Elections Commission wants a super-sophisticated biometric system, but there is no way it can be in place by then - and many people worry that it can be manipulated. Indelible ink works - just ask the world's largest democracy, India. I don't think anyone has ever disputed the results of India's elections in over 60 years.
4) Finally, let RTM be truly independent, like the BBC and NHK and the public broadcasting systems in Australia, France, Germany, and elsewhere in the world. RTM does not belong to Umno. It belongs to the people. As long as RTM - funded by all the people of Malaysia - acts as the propaganda arm of the 25 percent of Malaysians who voted for Umno, no one can believe that Malaysia's elections are fair and free.
So, my dear Prime Minister, it's all very simple. You say that Malaysia's elections are free and fair. Now you have a chance to prove it to the outside world and remove all doubts. And if your party wins, then the Malaysian people - and the world - might finally be convinced.
If you refuse these suggestions, then the doubts will linger, and your assertions about the honesty of Malaysia's election will continue to be questioned.
Sincerely,
John Malott
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