THERE must be stringent checks this time around to ensure political parties do not abuse state resources during the campaign period ahead of the general election, political observers said.

They said that very little action was taken against those who violated election laws or abused state resources in previous elections.

Observers said this has to stop, and the authorities must look into potential abuses and come down hard on those who continue to do so.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann said that it could be expected state infrastructure will be mobilised to assist party candidates in the coming election.

“Bersih have issued statements criticising such abuses of state resources as it renders the political playing field uneven because the opposition is unable to access such resources,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said in previous elections, including the 22 months of the Pakatan Harapan government, ministers would conduct visits to constituencies and announce new projects or hand out grants to local communities.

On Monday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the dissolution of parliament, sending the country to a general election, which has to be held within 60 days of the announcement.

The Election Commission will set the dates on Monday.

However, Fann said it is difficult to take action as existing laws are inadequate to deal with the problem

“At the moment, it is more of an ethical than legal violation.

“The Election Offences Act or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act has to be amended to include using state resources when parliament is dissolved or a by-election is declared, an offence.”

This, he said, is to prevent the recurrences of abuse.

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said that parties should not unduly influence the voters by giving inducements.

“Yet, typically both federal and state governments of course still make use of their incumbent positions to hand out goodies to various extents.”

University of Tasmania political analyst James Chin said it doesn’t matter if they are state or government, they are bound to abuse the infrastructure under their control.

“This is a standard part and parcel of Malaysian politics so nothing will change.” – October 15, 2022.