No blackout reports on May 5

(The Star) - There were no reports of blackouts on May 5 and the illegal rallies discrediting the Election Commission over the polls results on that day are a mockery of the country’s democratic electoral process, said EC deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

He added the EC is seeking legal advice to act against those discrediting the commission “for cheap political mileage.”

He slammed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang as “anti-democratic zealots” and those supporting their cause as “anti-establishment activists and youngsters ignorant of the law.”

Wan Ahmad said Anwar and Lim won with comfortable majorities in the Permatang Pauh and Gelang Patah parliamentary constituencies respectively.

“This begs the question: Why are they instigating the rakyat with lies and slander without a shred of evidence?”

Wan Ahmad was referring to the so-called ‘Blackout 505’ rallies that were being held in breach of the Peaceful Assembly Act, to gather support over Opposition claims of a fraudulent general election on May 5.

Wan Ahmad warned them to stop their illegal rallies as there were no such incidents on polling day, adding even election agents appointed by them had denied the claims.

“We have so many witnesses at the polling centres, including NGOs who were there as observers.

“None of them reported any incidents of blackout,” he said, accusing Anwar of spewing lies to disrepute the results of GE13.

Calling on all quarters to respect the decision made by the voters, in keeping with democratic principles, Wan Ahmad said those disputing the election results should file petitions in court instead of screaming their lungs out in mass rallies.

“As lawmakers, they should know the rules of the law.

“When filing a petition, they must also provide evidence to back their claims.

“They can get the best lawyers in town to argue their case,” said Wan Ahmad, adding the 85% voter turnout at the just concluded GE13 was an electoral record and reflected the people’s confidence in the legal democratic process.

He said the opposition leaders cannot arbitrarily reject decisions made by the voters through the ballot boxes in a free and fair election.

The Barisan Nasional won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats, to form the federal government. The other seats were distributed among the DAP (38), PKR (30) and PAS (21).