Bersih slams EC’s ‘dirty tactic,’ bulldozing redelineation proposal before court decides

The Election Commission's‎ (EC) submission of the redelineation exercise report to the Prime Minister's Department before the case is decided in the Federal Court, has brought the process of justice to a halt, says electoral reform body Bersih 2.0. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, October 15, 2015.

The Election Commission's‎ (EC) submission of the redelineation exercise report to the Prime Minister's Department before the case is decided in the Federal Court has brought the process of justice to a halt, said electoral reform body Bersih 2.0 today.

Bersih also said that the EC has insulted the judiciary with its cutting short the legal process for "political interests".

"The EC's hurried action, which did not even wait for the appeal to be filed in the Federal Court, has failed the process of justice," the group's steering committee said in a statement.

"Bersih condemns the EC's evil action, which is clearly to push for the redelineation exercise in Sarawak to be presented in the Dewan Rakyat sitting next week, although the court had yet to come up with a decision on the appeal."

Earlier today, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal's ruling that the EC's notice of its redelineation of Sarawak's electoral boundaries was valid.

On August 7, the Court of Appeal overturned the Kuching High Court's ruling on May 15 that the EC had to republish its notice as it lacked details.

"As a result of the decision by the Federal Court today, the EC has been given the power to decide on what kind of information it wanted to present to the public and to sideline the rights and power of voters to look through the redelineation proposal so that they could object effectively," Bersih said.

"Bersih is very disappointed with the EC which used a slick tactic to fail the legitimate action in challenging the redelineation proposal by the two."

‎The electoral reform group said that its hopes of seeing elections conducted in a transparent manner were becoming dimmer, but vowed not to give up its fight.

"This has given a clear signal that the Sarawak state election will be held in the near future to give legitimacy and strengthen Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration, which is now in shambles with scandals like the RM2.6 billion in donation and also the 1MDB debts‎

"Bersih will not keep quiet and is committed to fight any cheating and will fight for the integrity of elections, especially in the redelineation of constituents nationwide," it added.

- TMI