PARTI Sarawak Bersatu, still smarting from its humiliating reversal of fortune in last weekend’s state election, has called on the Election Commission to “seriously investigate” election malpractices allegedly committed by the victorious Gabungan Parti Sarawak. 

PSB president Wong Soon Koh claimed the monopoly over government machinery and resources by GPS candidates were “decisive factors in influencing voters’ ‘, especially in the rural and sub-urban areas. 

“Clear infringements of election practices included the political involvement of apolitical entities like the blatant use of the resident and district offices, state secretary’s office, government mouthpieces like the public communications unit of the Chief Minister’s Office, and social-media platforms as campaign machinery for GPS candidates and the caretaker CM,” said Wong.

He said in addition, government vehicles and all the state-owned helicopters were deployed for campaigning for the benefit of GPS candidates.

Wong, the oldest candidate in the election at 79, added community leaders and headmen were “repeatedly put under pressure of being removed from their positions if they do not support GPS. 

“Obviously, these had consequences especially in the rural areas and a spanner was thrown into the works for a fair and clean election.”

Wong said the EC must investigate the allegations “for the benefit of all political parties and candidates towards a clean and healthy election in a true and democratic process”.

“A truly democratic process of electing a government should be premised on a level-playing field to allow and optimise voter participation and empowerment.

“Sadly, this was evidently and glaringly lacking notwithstanding calls for a fair and clean elections for ‘a government of the people, by the people and for the people’.”  –  December 22, 2021.