BERSIH 2.0’s Sabah chapter has recorded 41 election offences committed by political parties in the state since the dissolution of the state assembly right up to the start of election campaigning after nomination day last Saturday.

The group said Barisan Nasional committed the most offences under the Election Offences Act‎ 1954 and against global conventions on caretaker governments.

The offences included bribing, vote buying, and the use of government assets.   

Among them were the announcement by Sabah BN chairman Musa Aman to gazette 21ha of land in Kg Numbok as native land on April 26, Sabah BN secretary Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s use of the state government-owned Sabah Foundation job fair to campaign on April 30, and the handing over of native titles to 1,279 villagers in Pulau Banggi on May 3.

Opposition party Parti Warisan Sabah was also guilty of offences committed after nomination day.

These included the use of racial politics and hostility, Bersih said at a press conference in Kota Kinabalu today.

“We are surprised with the amount of electoral offences committed by all political parties involved, including the use of government assets by the caretaker government in the election campaign, according to our observers,” state chapter chairman Beverly Joeman said.

“Sabah Bersih wishes to reiterate that all political parties must adhere to the process of fair and clean elections, as well as healthy and best practices during the campaign period,” she said. – May 4, 2018.