Nik Arif Nik Abdullah on the Election Commission.....With the latest statement by it's Chairman that giving outright donation to voters is no bribery, the Commission has reached a new low.

Nik Arif Nik Abdullah

In less than 24 hours. voters of Sungai Besar & Kuala Kangsar will be casting their votes to fill the seats left vacant as a result of the tragic helicopter crash in Sebuyau on May 5th. With the latest statement by it's Chairman that giving outright donation to voters is no bribery, the Commission has reached a new low in it's fight to twart off allegations that it is not independent. Or are they?

Since it's inception on 4 Sept 1957, the question whether the Election Commission is independent never ceased to arise. This is due to the fact that saved the appointed members (from the rank of retired senior civil servants), the staffs are 'seconded' from the JPA, meaning full time Govt civil servants who are are posted at the Commission to serve full time. This include the Secretary who heads the Secretariat and paid by the Government of the day, as opposed to the appointed Members whose salary are 'charged' to the Consolidaed Fund (meaning, they cannot be sacked unless by a 2/3 majority vote in Parliament). To get a better insight of its day to day working, a brief look at the personality of some of its Chairman might suffice.

The 1st Chairman was the flamboyant Dato Mustapha Abakri Hassan. Though I never had the privilege to serve under him, much was say about his 'heroics' which is taken to mean that he is much feared by both enemies (meaning the Opposition) and friends (meaning the Government). Suffice to say that under him, the Commission was much respected, albeit, independent.

Then comes Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Talib. A very much respected man, although soft spoken. But when he speaks, even the PM listens. That much can be said of him. I have the honour to have served under such a respected person.

Thereafter, the Commission took a 'nosedived', culminating in the appointment of Dato Wan Ahmad Wan Yusoff. Of course mention must be made of his predecessor, Tan Sri Rashid Abd Rahman, a man of many characters. Sometimes, he was a Mustapha Albakri sometimes, a TS Kadir. Well liked but outspoken, he more often than not managed to manoeurve and uses his charm to get out of tricky situations. He count LKS and the late TGNA as among his 'allies'.

Wan Ahmad was a different type of animal altogether. Having served as an official in the PM'Research Dept, he had wanted, first as Secretary and then as Dep Chairman & Chairman, to make the Commission a Govt Dept. He got many tongue lashings from Rashid for that. When he finally becomes it's Chairman, he showed his true colours. Never had the Commission's standing took a beating more severe like when under him.

Succeeding him was a TS Aziz Yusoff, a formerly State Secretary of Selangor. You may all may thought that he must have been an outstanding SS to be plucked out while still in service to head the Commission. Sadly, this is not so. He likes to talk, that's all.Mediocre at best, he tried hard to impress, but did not quite made it.

The current Chairman, Dato Mohd Hashim Abdullah was previously the Commission's Dep. Chairman. Prior to that, he was the Sec General of the Agriculture Ministry. His appointment would not have raised much eyebrow but for the fact that he was, for quite sometimes, serving as Special Official to TS Anuar Musa, now UMNO Imformation Chief. It is an open secret that they are still in contact with each other thereafter, and what role TS played in getting him get the post is up to anybody's guess. As to date, he hasn't done anything impressive to impress. Let's give time though.

Before parting, may I add that one of the great ironies of it all is the placing of the Election Commission under the PM's Dept. Come again, did I say, under the PM's Dept?

Need I say more ?

Cakap cakap...Election Commission

Existing voting methods still relevant and safe -- EC

2011/07/05

KUALA LUMPUR: The existing voting methods practised in Malaysia should not be questioned as it is still relevant, safe and able to ensure transparency in the voting process.
As such, the Election Commission (EC) said the demand made by certain quarters to reintroduce the use indelible ink to prevent double voting after the idea was scrapped in March 2008, would remain baseless. 
"The system also contravenes the Federal Constitution, which ensures that a registered voter has the right to vote unless he or she is disqualified under the law.

"In this context, if the use of the indelible ink were to be implemented, the registered voters' rights to vote can be denied if their fingers were forcibly stained with such ink," the EC said.

The EC said it was aware that the public would want to see allegations on double voting to be proven in court but no election petition concerning the issue had been brought to court so far. 
The EC also explained that it had always tried to find the best way to strengthen the voting system and to replace the proposed use of indelible ink with a biometric system.

On the issue of phantom voters, the EC said it was a mere lie to tarnish the image of the commission as no election petition had ever been filed on the issue.


Read more: Existing voting methods still relevant and safe -- EC http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Existingvotingmethodsstillrelevantandsafe--EC/Article/#ixzz1RFgf4iDu



steadyaku47 comment:


The arrogance of the EC to say that the existing voting methods "should not be questioned!"


Why in the first place did the EC propose the use of indelible ink at the 12th general election to prevent double voting? Surely the problem was one of implementation, not of relevance? And how will this indelible ink contravene the Federal Constitution that  ensures that a registered voter has the right to vote unless he or she is disqualified under the law? The use of indelible ink is, as you put it, to prevent double voting. Unless the Federal Constitution allows double voting (which I think it does not - and ahem....I stand corrected if I am wrong...) pray tell me EC how this contravenes the Federal Constitution? If the BN government is considering the introduction of legislation to make the necessary amendments to allow double voting in the Federal Constitution  then I rest my case. If not YOU rest your case EC!  


Common sense will tell you that existing voting methods practised in Malaysia, like all other voting methods across the globe, can and should be improved as and when technological advances provides us with a better system. So please be open to change for the better....or are the hear no evil, see no evil and talk no evil kind of monkey? 


And I cannot understand what you mean by "the registered voters' rights to vote can be denied if their fingers were forcibly stained with such ink"...aisehman the government makes us do many many other things which I find more offensive then if they were to ask me to stain my fingers with indelible ink should I want to vote! And which Rakyat would complain to the EC or make a police report that he or she had been forced to stain his or her fingers with such ink if he intends to vote because it is against his or her constitutional rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution? Does he or she have a death wish?  


Yes the EC always try to find the best way to strengthen the voting system...you can keep trying while many other countries  have already succeed! Your best might be good enough for the BN government but not for the people. As your political masters are dependent on gerrymandering and on you to do their bidding to favor them at any elections,so are you dependent on them for your job. Scratch my back and I will scratch yours! 


That you dismiss the issue of phantom voters as a lie does not make it go away. The issue of these phantom voters cannot tarnish the good image of the EC. How can you tarnish the EC good image when there is nothing good about EC's image in the first place? If you want to know why no election petition concerning this issue has been brought to court so far....well try saying that after the 13th general election when BN is out of government - and by then most probably you will already be out of a job! 


To engage the EC in any reasonable discussion is an excecise in futility! You continue to live your "katak bawah tempurung" exisitence and you will be safe in as long as your political masters is BN. Anybody else and you will be history. The sadness of it all is that the EC is the guardian of the Malaysia's electoral system.  Harpkan pagar, pagar makan padi! You should be ashamed of yourself and your lack of courage to stand up for what is right.