Bersih: No start to GE14 campaign, but 48 offences already recorded

GE14 | Electoral watchdog Bersih has already recorded 48 election offences since 2017, most of them before Parliament was dissolved.

“There are many more (offences) which we have missed,” Bersih outreach officer Chan Tsu Chong said at a press conference at its office in Petaling Jaya today.

Among the offences recorded involved giving treats and gifts, undue government handouts and inducement, use of government machinery, biased behaviour by public institutions, electoral roll and phantom voters, racial politics and political violence, intimidation and harassment.

Out of the 48 offences Bersih recorded, 38 were linked to BN and two to Pakatan Harapan. The remaining offences, mostly to do with the electoral roll and phantom voters, could not be linked to any political party.

The earliest offence recorded was on April 24, 2017, while the latest was on April 8, 2018.

Bersih, along with civil rights groups Suaram and Pusat Komas, held the press conference to launch their ‘Operasi Pemantauan’ (Observation Operation) for the 14th general election.

The operation is a citizens’ initiative to keep the election free and fair, said Bersih acting chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari.

The operation, he added currently has 100 coordinators assisted by 500 volunteers, who will be keeping an eye out for election offences throughout the GE14 period.

While Bersih would appreciate more volunteers, they have streamlined their method of monitoring elections so that anyone with any information of election offences can channel it to them easily.

Shahrul said complaints can be made through the Pemantau website, by calling 03-79314444 or 017-8725418 or 017-8725419, sending a WhatsApp text to 011-17721546, or by emailing aduan@pemantau.org.

“Bersih calls upon everyone, EC, the government, political parties, voters and NGOs, to ensure GE14 is held freely and fairly,” he said. - Mkini