DAP tells EC: Stop nitpicking

DAP national vice-chairman M Kulasegaran blasted the Election Commission for'harping on trivial issues'.

Kulasegaran was responding to EC deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, for stating only contesting parties were allowed to put up campaign paraphernalia.

"There are more pressing and urgent reforms that the Election Commission must undertake to win back the confidence of voters and Malaysians in general, "said Kulasegaran (below).

He said there are a several key issues which the EC must give priority to in the Bagan Pinang by-election:

• Ensure that the electoral roll is clean and without any phantom voters.

• Ensure that candidates are allowed to campaign in army camps.

• Ensure that fair media coverage is fair and honest.

• Ensure that there is no abuse of government recourses and funds.

Ahmad was reported as saying that as political parties that are not contesting have not paid any election deposit, they should not be going against the law by putting up their campaign materials.

Two qustions for the EC

Kulasegaran said that DAP opposes such unnecessary and undemocratic restrictions and urged the EC to get its priorities right .

"EC must be reminded that its most important role is to ensure an election or by election that is free , fair and clean. It must not complicate things or make things difficult for the opposition."

He added, "EC's time and resources should therefore be spent on resolving the above issues rather than on imposing unnecessary restriction on trivial issues."

Kulasegaran also posed two questions to the EC, relating to the Kugan case and NGOs involvement in by-elections.

The first question was whether it was wrong for Kugan's relatives and friends who are unhappy with the attorney-general 's decision not to press murder charges to distribute leaflets at the by election.

He also asked if it was wrong for any NGO or interest group to use the by-election as a platform to highlight their issues.

"A free, fair and clean election or by-election will include allowing the voters to gain as much information as possible on any issue so that they are able to make an informed decision.

What is the issue, which group is highlighting the issue, what posters are being put up should not be matters which require the approval of the EC. These are not for it to judge and not within its powers," he said.

"Hence, any political party or NGO or even individuals should be allowed to campaign in a by election or general election irrespective of whether they are contesting," reasoned Kulasegaran.