Is a smear campaign okay? EC chief asked

Although Abdul Aziz was 'legally' right, he should have taken into account the moral aspect of the situation.

UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof should have been more thoughtful when he said that the commission could only bear responsibility during the campaign period.

PAS central working committee (CWC) member Dzulkefly Ahmad said that although Abdul Aziz was ‘legally’ correct, it was somewhat irresponsible for the EC chairman to have said so.

“While what he said may be true in accordance to the provisions of the (Election) Offences Act, I am a bit disappointed that he said that.

“We’re talking about basic morality here. For him to say that, it is as if he is saying that a smear campaign is okay,” he told FMT today.

He added that it was important for healthy, competitive politics to be nurtured.

“And this would require commitment from all leaders including leaders from institutions, not just political leaders.”

EC chairman Abdul Aziz on Monday told FMT that the EC has no power to stop any smear campaign prior to the nomination day of a particular by-election.

He said this in response to Padang Serai MP N Surendran’s call for the EC to summon Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on the smear campaign against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in the Kajang by-election.

When told that Abdul Aziz had said that politicians are in the know of the code of ethics during campaign period, Dzulkefly said politicians have to be constantly reminded.

“The EC is the constitutional custodian who oversees a free and fair election. Even if they (politicians) know, you have to remind them,” he said, adding that Abdul Aziz should pre-warn politicians to show that he means business.

Dzulkefly lamented how the EC seems to not be getting the message of reform.

“It is about what happens before, during and after an election.

“My contention is that it’s not just about during the election itself. Elections only take about two weeks, so what do you do for the rest of the year?” he queried.

No enforcement

Meanwhile, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke pointed out how the EC has failed to take action even during the official campaign period itself.

“The EC’s record has shown that they have never taken any action as no one was ever prosecuted over such offences.”

Loke also questioned the seriousness of the EC to address such offences.

“The only thing they have done is having the enforcement team going around to monitor during the campaign period.

“Other than that, there is no action by the EC to initiate action anyone who attacks those from the other political divide,” said Loke.

As such, the integrity of the EC has always been questioned, Loke added.

“They can always initiate prosecution on those who have caused the offences,” he said.

PKR not surprised

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said it was not surprising for Abdul Aziz to have made the comment.

“But smear politics is not new; it has been in politics for the past 15 years. In fact, we are immune to it,” he said.

The Pandan MP however expressed confidence that the smear campaign would not put a dent to the opposition’s campaign in the by-election as he believes that Kajang voters are would make the “right choice”