Same faces seen at by-elections to create trouble, claims EC
BernamaPublished: Dec 7, 2013 6:12 AM | Updated: Dec 7, 2013 12:11 PM
The Election Commission (EC) believes that certain quarters had been coaching a group of individuals to disturb the by-election process held in the Sungai Limau state constituency recently.
The Election Commission (EC) believes that certain quarters had been coaching a group of individuals to disturb the by-election process held in the Sungai Limau state constituency recently.
Its chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the troublesome group had been moving from one by-election to another with the aim of making the by-election process appear unclean.
"We saw the same faces, who are outsiders, at the recent Sungai Limau by-election and they were also seen at the Kuala Besut by-election (in July).
"However, the EC has no power to act against such a group as this comes under the jurisdiction of the police," he told reporters after presenting certificates of appreciation to the Sungai Limau by-election workers at a dinner function in Alor Setar last night.
Abdul Aziz said the same situation occurred during the general election, especially in certain areas but it was more noticeable during the by-elections because of the greater public focus.
He said the EC also found that a number of NGOs appointed by certain quarters had acted beyond their jurisdiction, especially during the general election, by stopping certain vehicles and individuals who looked foreign.
Abdul Aziz said it was as if the NGOs were helping certain political parties because the observers appointed by the EC were only around during the elections to note down matters with the aim of improving the election process.
‘EC always acts professionally’
He said another problem that was difficult to overcome was the habit of Malaysians not adhering to the campaign period, which ends at midnight, but they continued to campaign on polling day.
"They came (on polling day), carrying posters of the contesting candidates and persuading voters to vote for their party candidates. They argued that they were not campaigning but only pleading for votes. To the EC, this is campaigning.
"I wish to stress that the EC always acts professionally. We don't assist to make the candidates win or lose. We treat all equally."
Abdul Aziz said the recent Sungai Limau by-election went on well except for an incident where a PAS Youth member punched a Wanita BN campaigner, which marred the by-election.
He said it was an EC tradition to hold a post-mortem on a by-election one month after it was held, to study the feedback from the teams of by-election workers except from the political parties, to address weaknesses and mistakes.
The post-mortem of the Sungai Limau by-election, held here today, was attended by all the EC senior officers.
- Bernama
Its chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the troublesome group had been moving from one by-election to another with the aim of making the by-election process appear unclean.
"We saw the same faces, who are outsiders, at the recent Sungai Limau by-election and they were also seen at the Kuala Besut by-election (in July).
"However, the EC has no power to act against such a group as this comes under the jurisdiction of the police," he told reporters after presenting certificates of appreciation to the Sungai Limau by-election workers at a dinner function in Alor Setar last night.Abdul Aziz said the same situation occurred during the general election, especially in certain areas but it was more noticeable during the by-elections because of the greater public focus.
He said the EC also found that a number of NGOs appointed by certain quarters had acted beyond their jurisdiction, especially during the general election, by stopping certain vehicles and individuals who looked foreign.
Abdul Aziz said it was as if the NGOs were helping certain political parties because the observers appointed by the EC were only around during the elections to note down matters with the aim of improving the election process.
‘EC always acts professionally’
He said another problem that was difficult to overcome was the habit of Malaysians not adhering to the campaign period, which ends at midnight, but they continued to campaign on polling day.
"They came (on polling day), carrying posters of the contesting candidates and persuading voters to vote for their party candidates. They argued that they were not campaigning but only pleading for votes. To the EC, this is campaigning.
"I wish to stress that the EC always acts professionally. We don't assist to make the candidates win or lose. We treat all equally."
Abdul Aziz said the recent Sungai Limau by-election went on well except for an incident where a PAS Youth member punched a Wanita BN campaigner, which marred the by-election.
He said it was an EC tradition to hold a post-mortem on a by-election one month after it was held, to study the feedback from the teams of by-election workers except from the political parties, to address weaknesses and mistakes.
The post-mortem of the Sungai Limau by-election, held here today, was attended by all the EC senior officers.
- Bernama
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