FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS - Eventhough, the UMNO-BN government were defeated in GE14, not just at the Federal Level but also in States of Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Trengganu, Kedah, Melaka, Trengganu and Sabah, the struggle for FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS must continue...BN only retained power in Pahang and Perlis in GE 14.
NO FAIR ELECTIONS IN SG KANDIS - WILL IT BE MORE FAIR IN BALAKONG?
In the first by-Election in Sg.Kandis, it was most disappointing that nominations was fixed on 21/7/2018, and the polling date on 4/8/2018. Campaign period = 13 days until midnight of 3/8/2018.
NOT FAIR - Campaigning period must at least be 30 - 60 days to be truly fair to ALL candidates and also voters...now, in Sg.Kandis still the same unjust '13 days' - need to be increased to be fair...
OVERSEAS VOTERS MUST HAVE TIME TO SEND BACK THEIR VOTES
Time for the preparation and printing of ballot papers - 2 -3 days. Do we have enough time for the ballot papers to be sent to overseas registered voters...and for them to send back their marked ballot papers - so that it can be counted on 4/8/2018? There was much complaints during GE14 from overseas voters who alleged they received the ballot papers late...making it difficult to send back their ballots to reach Malaysia to be counted... For this reason only, the number of days between nomination day and voting day must be enlarged - I would suggest that it should be at the very least 30 days...better still 60 days.
TIME FOR CAMPAIGNING MUST BE FAIR TO ALL CANDIDATES AND THE VOTERS
Time for campaigning - There are more than 40,000 registered voters in Sg Kandis. What would be a reasonable time for a candidate to reach 40,000 voters to introduce himself and lobby for their votes? Even if the campaigning period was 30 days - it would mean trying to meet, talk to and lobby more a thousand per day...but now the candidate only has 13 days to do so...
Remember, in an election, people vote for their representative in the State Legislative Assembly ...and registered voters must have adequate time to meet or listen to the various candidates to make a wise choice ...
In Malaysia, short campaign periods only benefits candidates from parties now in government...and maybe those from bigger political parties/coalitions...not candidates who stand as independent candidates or from the smaller parties...So, certainly a short campaign period does injustice to some candidates...
If there is not enough time to meet and access the individual candidates, all most registered voters will have is vote in a candidate based on the political party he/she stands under...which is not right or fair. Often, it has been seen that political parties may have 'good' leaders - but that does not translate in the best candidates for all the seats where the party places candidates for elections. We do not want people who are not BRAVE TO act according to values and principles for the best interest of the people. We do not MP/ADUNs who are just 'loyal' and listen to leaders - how many of the UMNO-BN spoke up against wrongdoings including kleptocracy of their 'leaders'...So, evaluation of the people of the candidates is most important ...and for this, people need time ...and a longer campaigning period helps...at least 30 days?
ONGOING MONITORING BY BERSIH 2.0 AND MALAYSIANS FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
Now, Pakatan Harapan...Need to monitor that they do not use government resources and monies during campaigning period...no promises for new 'projects' by government during campaign periods, or even just before nominations...
BERSIH 2.0 and all of us need to continue to work for FREE AND FAIR Elections...in Malaysia..
Ist by-election...we may excuse - but hopefully for the Balakong by-elections, there will be LONGER more fair and just campaigning period...not less than 30 days..better a longer period.
BERSIH 2.0 allowed to monitor upcoming elections - Really, not much need to monitor voting and counting because already there are the PACA(polling and counting agents of each candidate to ensure no hanky-panky) - So, other aspects need to be monitored..
OTHER REFORMS NEEDED
- Reduction of the DEPOSITS needed to be able to contest - It is too high now, so poorer candidates just cannot afford to offer themselves as candidates.
- AMOUNT SPEND BY CANDIDATES need to be monitored - this should also include money spend by others to get a candidate elected. Was the money that flowed in to help UMNO-BN candidates, that we now know, was really calculated as part of the expense...would this not have exceeded the amount allowed to be used for campaigning? Remember, the setting of a LIMIT of the money that can be spend during campaigning to ensure a FAIRER elections for all contesting candidates ...
- MEDIA Coverage generally is unfair ...government and maybe BN candidates may get most of the coverage...not much space will be given to Independent and/or smaller party candidates...Is this FAIR?
No fair elections under PH? Nomination 21Jul, Voting 4 Aug-Sg Kandis? Not enough time to campaign? Overseas voters?
KAJANG: Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng (pic) has passed away following an accident early Friday. Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said the accident occurred at around 12.40am on July 20. - Star, 20/7/2018 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/20/balakong-adun-dies-in-accident/#yIGtRwj7SuMqz6Ll.99
HOPEFULLY, FOR BALAKONG - THE NUMBER OF DAYS BETWEEN NOMINATION DAY AND VOTING DAY WILL BE AT LEAST 30 DAYS OR MORE
SG KANDIS POLLS | Nominations have closed for the Sungai Kandis by-election, with the returning officer announcing that the state seat will be contested by Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, BN's Lokman Noor Adam, and independent Murthy Krishnasamy....
In GE14, Shuhaimi obtained 23,998 votes to win the state seat, defeating BN's Kamaruzzaman Johar (11,518), PAS' Mohd Yusof Abdullah (7,573) and PRM's Hanafiah Husin (76). Polling will take place on Aug 4. -Malaysiakini, 21/7/2018
Bersih observers to monitor Sungai Kandis by-election
This will be the first time observers from NGOs would be allowed into voting stations.
Bersih
2.0 acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari (left) says they will work
with other NGOs to ensure best representation at each polling station.
Next to him is Bersih executive director Yap Swee Seng.
PUTRAJAYA: Thirty-eight Bersih 2.0 observers will be allowed into
polling stations during the Sungai Kandis by-election on Aug 4.
This will be the first time NGO observers would be allowed into the
polling stations, said acting Bersih 2.0 chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd
Saari.
He said the observers would be divided among the 19 polling stations.
“Areas the observers would be allowed into will include the voting and counting stations and nomination centre.
“This is the first time we have been invited to have an open
discussion with the Election Commission’s (EC) representatives to
discuss about the election processes.
“It is a big step forward for both the civil society and EC itself.
Before this, we only ‘speak’ to them via the press. Responses only ever
came in the form of statements,” Shahrul said.
Although a request by Bersih to place 109 observers was rejected, he
said this was acceptable as other NGOs might be sending their observers
as well.
“The EC told us that they are only able to allow 38 observers from Bersih as they needed to cater to other NGOs.
“If needed, we may work something out with the other NGOs such as
IDEAS and Invoke in order to achieve the best representation in each
polling station,” he said.
When asked about the conditions set by the EC, Shahrul said,
observers would not be allowed to make public statements while the
voting process was underway.
“This is to ensure that voters would not feel intimidated or pressured during the voting process.
“The terms have yet to be finalised, and we will ensure that they do not restrict our observations.” Shahrul said observers would also be allowed to interview polling station officials.
This will be the first by-election under the new Pakatan Harapan government.
The Sungai Kandis seat fell vacant following the death of PKR assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafie on July 2 due to lymphatic cancer - FMT, 12/7/2018
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