Bersih wants technical glitches sorted out

The parliamentary select committee formed to look into electoral reform should, besides addressing this issue, also look into the technical glitches taking place in the Election Commission and National Registration Department.

These are serious concerns, Bersih 2.0 steering committee member A Subramaniam Pillay said today.

For example, he added, when a revelation is made by the opposition and Malaysiakini over the status of voters, then one finds their systems are down.

When the systems are up again, Subramaniam (left) said, the issue appears corrected.

"The PSC should study and look at why these technical glitches happen, as millions of ringgit have been spent to have foolproof computer systems.

"But when such allegations (of bogus or cloned voters) surface, such things (breakdowns) happen and then we have the data corrected," he said.

This, he added, does not augur well for government departments in charge of the registration of citizens and voters, and gives little confidence in government transparency.

Subramaniam said these are the areas which the PSC can look at and what can be done to prevent this.

“They can call the experts, security experts and talk to them to improve on the system,” he said.

Subramaniam was commenting on the technical glitches occurring with the databases of the NRD and EC when issues on the dubious status of a number of registered voters are brought up by PAS and highlighted in Malaysiakini.

He described the EC and NRD computer systems to be very weak systems with poor security and control from a technical viewpoint.

“It should have provided checks that certain numbers cannot go in. It is odd that the system can have funny numbers and names...”

Subramaniam and other steering committee members said this in a press conference to announce the launch today of Bersih 2.0's campaign titled ‘Implement the eight demands before the 13th general election’.

Subramaniam also said under the EC’s laws you cannot remove or move names arbitrarily as there are certain procedures.

“However, recently the EC announced that they are removing those 90 and above from the roll. There is a possibility that most of them will be dead but they should actually check and verify. They (EC) will be considered to be committing a crime if the EC system haphazardly pulls out the names,” he said.

This shows there is something really wrong with the computer system and it does not seem secure, he said, adding that it does not have a good checking system when you input data.

“It looks like it is a badly designed system where somebody made a lot of money but they did not deliver the goods,” he said.

Held it in the open

Subramaniam also urged that the PSC should also be allowed to conduct a study and submit its report before the general election is called.

He said if not, it would just be viewed as a public relations exercise and shows BN is not sincere.

“The PSC should be opened to the public so everyone can participate including Bersih 2.0,” he said.

“If the government is sincere they should also let the PSC come up with its report where the public can actually scrutinise and implement it before the election happens. It is no point to have the general election called before the PSC’s recommendations are forwarded,” he said.

Maria Chin Abdullah (left), another member of the Bersih 2.0 steering committee, said that it and other NGOs are always prepared to meet and give positive inputs to the PSC.

Premier Najib Abdul Razak had said that there is no guarantee that he would stop the call for elections, as there is no need to wait for the PSC.

Subramaniam said the electoral reforms sought by Bersih 2.0 can be implemented immediately without any amendment, adding that extending the campaign period to 21 days can be allowed as under the EC law it can be held longer than that, up to 60 days.

When it was pointed out that the PSC consists of “has-been politicians” from BN and they may not be sincere in implementing the reforms, Subramaniam said if they put their hearts and thought into it, they should positively work to change the system.

“It all depends on what the PSC does and it would depend on how assertive it is. There was a PSC on criminal reforms to look at amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. They did a good job. However, there is a National Unity PSC, where we do not know what finally happened. Some committees are good. We should actually hope that they do a good job.

“Six months is an ample period and they can work day and night. This is a serious issue and brings BN’s credibility into question. If BN is not serious in working out the reforms they will be seen as cakap tak serupa bikin (not willing to walk the talk). It is their credibility at stake,” he pointed out.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had announced that Marudu MP Maximus Johnity Ongkili (PBS) who is the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, will be heading the PSC, with other members comprising Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB), Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Umno), Alor Gajah MP Fong Chan Onn (MCA) and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan (MIC).


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