KIMANIS POLLS | Electoral reform group Bersih has reiterated the need to change election laws to better deal with election offences.
"Current election laws do not adequately cover this area of abuses of state resources and power.
"Bersih has been working closely with the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) and Election Commission (EC) to propose amendments to the law that would make such abuses an election offence," it said.
Bersih, in a statement to Malaysiakini, said it believes recent announcements by the Sabah government during the Kimanis by-election amounted to abuse.
"For Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal and Tourism Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi to announce special developments or allocations during the by-election is, in our view, an abuse of power and state resources.
"During any elections, the contest to be elected is between different political parties, not the government versus opposition.
"To use state resources, that is taxpayers' money, to fish for votes is an abuse of the power that was bestowed upon them at the last general election," it said.
Earlier today, Shafie announced the setting up of a new district office in Kimanis.
Mohamaddin had also announced an RM50,000 allocation to a local school to upgrade its field and hall, prompting MCA president Wee Ka Siong to accuse him of vote-buying.
The minister had defended the move, stressing that he has an obligation to assist people who ask for help.
Bersih said political parties in power must make a clear distinction between party affairs and state affairs.
"As the ruling government, it is their responsibility to serve all Sabahans whether they voted for government parties or the opposition and no voters should be given the impression or threatened that they would be left out in receiving government services if they voted opposition," it said.
The Kimanis by-election campaign officially began on Jan 4 and voters will go to the polls on Jan 18.
The by-election was called after the Election Court voided the Kimanis election results on grounds that Election Commission (EC) failed to comply with election procedures.
Umno's Anifah Aman had won Kimanis with a razor-thin 156-vote majority in the last general election. He garnered 11,942 votes to Warisan's Karim Buang's 11,786 votes.
A third party, Harapan Rakyat's Jaafar Ismail, received 1,300 votes.
Anifah, who had since quit Umno to become an independent, decided to sit out the current by-election.
Umno is represented by Mohamad Alamin, who is contesting under BN's banner, in this by-election while Karim is again representing Warisan. - Mkini
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