GE14 ‘worst’ election ever, says reform committee chief

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 Feb 2019 11:00AM · 6 Comments

Electoral Reform Committee chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman says it is pointless to hold a tribunal to investigate allegations of misconduct by former commissioners. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, February 19, 2019.

IN a damning indictment, Malaysia’s electoral reforms chief accused the Election Commission of taking sides in the May 9 general election and being blatant about it, calling it the worst-held elections in the country.

Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, a career election official, who served the EC in various capacities, said the 14th general election was the worst he had seen in 27 years of service in terms of the decisions made by the commission.

“It appeared that the EC was taking instructions from the government,” Rashid told The Malaysian Insight.

“Overall there were a lot of non-compliance happening on the ground but I think the instruction that was given was for the workers to deliver the elections to the party in power.

“This was the worst and I feel ashamed. Already the law is biased to the party in power, yet they were adding insult to injury and not giving any chance to the opposition at all. That’s not the way to conduct a democratic election.”

Moving forward, he said, there must be rules for commissioners and their appointments must be vetted to ensure they are not biased.

“They have to be committed to free-and-fair elections in all matters. If they fail, then there should be a tribunal or disciplinary action,” said the 76-year-old, who is also a Bersatu central committee member.

Electoral reform is one of the major reforms being undertaken by Pakatan Harapan following last year’s unprecedented victory over Barisan Nasional.

An Election Commission officer preparing a ballot box ahead of the 14th general election on May 9 in Alor Star. The elections resulted in Malaysia's first change of government in more than six decades. – EPA pic, February 19, 2019.

Critics said the elections on May 9 were marred by several controversies ranging from the cutting out of PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s image from billboards, to delays in announcing the election results.

Other events that were criticised included an incident at the Rantau constituency where returning officer Amino Agos barred PKR candidate Dr Streram Sinnasamy from entering the nomination centre to file his papers, allowing BN’s Mohamad Hasan to win uncontested.

After GE14, then-EC chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah had his tenure cut short by two months. His resignation was followed by the resignations of six other commissioners.

But while Rashid was unhappy with the way the elections were conducted last May, he also saw no point holding a tribunal.

Putrajaya formed a tribunal to investigate allegations of misconduct by EC commissioners during the last election.

“What do they want to do? Punish them?

“The tribunal should be disbanded as there are no legal avenues to punish them if they are found guilty. How do you punish them? Ask them to return their allowances?

“And why limit the tribunal to six only when the chairman is responsible for everything. It is always the chairman who decides everything,” he said.

Rashid, who was EC chairman from 2000-2008, said the ERC is looking at the way commissioners are appointed and even considering doing away with commissioners.

“We are looking into other systems on how to appoint commissioners, such as in Indonesia, where public feedback is obtained. But that’s a very long process.

“We are not sure if election commissioners are needed.

“In Canada, for instance, there are no commissioners and elections can be held fairly. The difficulty has always been how to find the right people.” – February 19, 2019.

Barisan Nasional was ousted in GE14 after 60 years in power. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 19, 2019.

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Comments

  • And you Rashid was part of the rot before you retired and moved over to Bersatu where you obviously saw the grass was greener. GE13 was no different when you were at the helm.

    Posted 5 years ago by J R · Reply

    • Well. At least Najib is done away with that's more important to save the country. Now is more important to reform the country.

      Posted 5 years ago by Oli oh · Reply

  • Despite all the claims of gerrymandering and biased commission members, the opposition then managed to gain a strong support since GE11(during Rashid's time) and finally coming into power in GE14. Any reforms should be carefully evaluated as the same FPTP system is still in use in developed countries incl UK.

    Posted 5 years ago by AHMAD RAFIZI · Reply

  • Though we Malaysian welcome this committee however we sense its leaning towards the government of the day. What we really want is a true state of affairs and its recommendation that would be acceptable to all political parties to abide by and acceptable by us Malaysian. The interest of the RAKYAT, which want this country to have a fair and sound election put in place is paramount without any loop holes for political parties especially the government of the day to take advantage of so much so that once adopted any changes to it must be approved by the Agong upon recommendation of the Judiciary based on of a select parliament select committee. An idiot proof model that Malaysia can be proud of that other nations would want to applied it in their election. Can we?? Right now what we are hearing is findings from someone who was part of the old system who so happens to be a member of the government of the day. If we really wants to fixed this, get distinguish people from other nation to be part of the findings and allow them to probe, sampling and give their recommendations. Can we??

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Rashid is also part of the previous government tool to cheat the rahyat rights in previous elections.
    Just because you are retired before GE14 does not make u clean.

    Posted 5 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

    • The tribunal will also find Rashid guilty of misconduct. Tribunal must go on. Stop their pensions

      Posted 5 years ago by Kenneth Tan · Reply