Najib: General election can be held anytime

The prime minister says the country does not have to wait for the PSC to finish its work on electoral reforms.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today that the next general election can be held anytime and is not bound by the works of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms.

Najib said the government, however, would strive to implement any recommendation made by the committee before the coming election.

“We will try; there must be something that can be done immediately,” he told a news conference after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at Menara Dato’ Onn here today.

“What we can do immediately, we will do immediately,” he added.

Najib, who is Umno president, said the committee, comprising representatives of political parties, would discuss and decide the types of improvements to be made to the electoral process.

Asked on the move by the opposition to wait for terms of reference before deciding on their participation in the committee, Najib said the committee was the government’s sincere offer so that decisions can be made based on consensus.

“This is a sincere offer on our part because we need to have discussions across the aisle so that there will be a consensus,” he said.

On the call by the opposition parties that the committee be headed by their representative, Najib said, it was impossible to accede to it because the committee must be headed by a leader from the majority party.

He also said that the request by the opposition for an equal representation in the committee could not be considered because the composition would depend on the strength of a party.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz announced on Wednesday that the Cabinet had agreed to the setting up of the committee which would be responsible for strengthening the laws and regulations governing elections in the country.

It will comprise five Barisan Nasional members, three opposition members and an independent member.

Najib said the Umno supreme council had also agreed to the government’s decision to set up the committee but said that this did not mean that it was an admission that there was a major weakness in the legitimacy of the country’s elections.

He said the supreme council stressed that parliamentary democracy was a key principle in Umno’s struggle all this while.

“The legitimacy of the electoral process should not be questioned because we have proven that there were no manipulation done either in terms of the ballots or the electoral roll,” he said.

On claims made by the opposition that people with permanent resident status being listed as electors within a short period, Najib said the Election Commission should provide explanation on the matter in view of attempts by the opposition to highlight it.

- Bernama

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EC has no credibility, cannot conduct elections: PAS Youth

Aug 9: The Election Commission has lost all its credibility and is not qualified to conduct elections in the country, said PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi (pic).

“There are just too much shortcomings and weaknesses affecting the transparency and fairness in the management and handling of the election.

"The continued exposes by the public as well as political parties ... can no longer be denied, and this has laid bare the EC chief and his deputy in public,” he said in a statement.

Saying the EC was faced with a "crisis of integrity", Nasrudin said the confession by a former army officer that he had been tasked with marking on postal ballots, as well as the revelation that non-Malaysians registered as voters had suddenly turned into citizens, should be a major embarassment to the Commission.

“Added to these are overwhelming evidences of overlapping voters in the electoral roll, inconsistencies of data between EC and National Registration Department, voters who do not exist in NRD database, voters who have been dead for centuries and the latest a voter listed as 'Kg Baru', and many more,” said Nasrudin.

EC has three options

Yesterday, PAS Youth committee member Suhaizan Kaiat (left) said the name of a village, "Kg Baru", had been listed as a voter in Besut, under the the identity card 830527115422. A check on the NRD's website revealed the cardholder as one Noraini binti Abdullah.

Another person, Farhana binti Abdul Rashid with the identity card number 840505715012 is suspected to be a 'phantom voter' in Kuala Terengganu because she could not be traced in NRD's record.

As such, Nasrudin said the country could not go for elections, adding that EC cannot act as a judge when public confidence towards it had eroded.

“EC has no choice but must face with three situations – Yang di-Pertuan Agong revamps the entire EC, the immediate resignation of EC chief and deputy, or a revamp of the entire structure of the Commission to be replaced with a new structure with participation from contesting political parties as well as independent international observers," stressed Nasrudin.

Nasrudin also instructed PAS Youth members nationwide to organise special prayers seeking divine help in resolving the matter.

Taken from Harakah

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Malaysians in an uproar as BN voting fraud exposed

Malaysians are in danger of losing their beloved country if immediate steps are not taken to stop the government's electoral manipulation of illegal immigrants’ status to allow them voting rights so that power-crazed leaders can stay in power.

In the case of one Indonesian permanent resident, Mismah, it was revealed that her status was changed from PR to full citizen within hours so as to allow her full voting rights. In Selangor, 1,000 permanent residents and in Penang 1,500 were found on the voter rolls although only full-fleged voters can have such rights. Again in Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng discovered a staggering 32,000 new voters being registered within three months.

There are now growing calls for Pakatan Raykat leaders, the NGOs and the people to join forces and demand a stop to the huge voter cheating going on. It has become clear that Prime Minister Najib Razak has lost his way, and the latest hot tip leaked by former deputy minister Tan Kee Kwong is that the BN has hired an IT expert to create a virus to destroy the voter database in the event that the Pakatan wins.

“They have hired an IT expert to do this work of disruption just in case they lose the polls,” said Tan, who is also chairman of the PKR disciplinary panel.

Vote Pakatan to offset the BN vote rigging

In Sarawak, people from all walks of life are now worried about a repeat of what happened in Sabah, following the launch of Project M in the 80s that focused on legalizing Filipino and Indonesian migrants to vote for the BN in exchange for their citizenships.

See Chee How, the PKR Batu Lintang assemblyman called on all "sensible BN supporters" who wanted to save Malaysia to vote for Pakatan Raykat in the coming general election to counter the "cheating" perpetuated by the BN's rigging of the voting system.

"The BN is desperate and tend to make desperate move even at the expense of the country. So legalising the illegal is one of the many dirty tactics the BN government will use to win in the next general election,” he told Malaysia Chronicle.

Saying that he too is a desperate Malaysian doing his little bit to save Malaysia, See believed that there were a lot of sensible and fair-minded BN supporters who love Malaysia as he did and together they could vote out the betrayers who were willing to sell their land to foreigners in exchange for power. "The power of the country is in your hand,” he urged.

Najib, said See, is using all the government machinery including, the police, the Election Commission and the National Registration Department to ensure that he stays in power. That was why, Najib was so reluctant to use the indelible ink but opted for costly and easy to manipulate Biometric system.

With illegals coming into the country seeking blue collar jobs or who were involved in criminal activities, See is worried that the future of the country would be at stake if tens of thousands of these uneducated are absorbed into the society. “Sabahans are suffering from high crime rate and we would be infested with social issues in the future. Is the BN government so blinded by power not to see the consequences,” he chided.

Although the Pakatan leaders have asked for an emergency Parliament sitting on the electoral fraud, See believed that Najib would not agree to it. “It will spoil his plan.”

Wake up call to all Malaysians

MP for Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen also made a similar call to the people and the government servants to "open their eyes" and see the dirty tactic used by the BN to stay in power.

“I am appealing to the good conscience of the civil servants in the Election Commission, the NRD and the other government agencies to come together and expose this tactic of selling our country to foreigners bit by bit. This is our country, our children’s land and we must protect it from going to ruins,” he said emotionally.

Chong said he would not appeal to the BN leaders as conscience was something he said they lacked. “This is Najib’s way of defending Putrajaya by hook or crook. By crook, you are destroying your own country, Najib,” he warned.

Admitting that it would be very difficult fr Pakatan to suss out every Mismah, Chong pointed out that the best alternative was to monitor the electoral registration which they are doing every three months. “In Sabah, the damage done is irreversible. The state security is a mess and the locals are being treated like foreigners in their own land,”

He said such dirty tactics amounted to treason. Chong warned that Pakatan would lose heavily in the coming general election if projects like Mismah continued.

Angry, betrayed and no-eye-see

Meanwhile, "angry and betrayed", that was how most people on the streets viewed the Mismah case.

Chung, a professional said when he read about Mismah, he believed that the BN would use such a ploy in simple-win majority seats held by the Pakatan. “It’s all a numbers game for the BN. I do not think Najib and those around him are concerned with what will happen to Malaysia. To stay in power, everything goes for them.”

Chung said he is worried of more brain drain. “There will be so much to lose out in future. We will have to share our medical benefits, free education, jobs, business and almost everything. If they contribute to our economy, that's fine but here they are just given citizenships to vote BN, what have they done for the country. It is scary to even think about it,” he added.

Cindy, an administration officer in a private firm said she could not wait for the general election. “I registered more than 15 years ago as a voter but I have never voted. This time, I have to exercise my rights as those without rights are doing so,” she said, referring to the citizenship for votes ploy.

“Those in power fail to see that the people affected are not only the non-Malays but also the Malays. Foreigners who come in are mostly Muslim and in future, I can see Malaysian Muslims and the instant-noodle citizens fighting over religious practice and government jobs. It will happen,” she said.

Ah Hing who rans a char-kueh store said at the rate Najib was running the country, it was a lose-lose situation for all Malaysian.

“Instead of turning the country around, he is legalising illegals to be part of us. This country is sinking lower than I thought it will. I am joining my daughter in Singapore next year. 'No-eye-see' what is happening here but I pity you guys who have to stay behind,” he said.

-  Malaysia Chronicle

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Ex-army man: I was ‘ordered’ to vote BN

A former army clerk reveals how he was instructed by his superiors to tick 900 ballots in favour of the ruling coalition.

UPDATED

AMPANG: An ex-army personnel claimed that he was instructed by his superiors to vote for Barisan Nasional and admitted that postal votes are often subjected to abuse.

Nasir Ahmad, a former army clerk at the Sandakan military post in Sabah, made the revelation at a PAS Youth media briefing on electoral fraud here today.

In the 1987 general election, Nasir said he and a colleague were instructed to open a bag and tick some 900 postal ballots according to “my taste”, an implicit reference to BN.

“I took about 400 ballots while my friend Ayub Mat took the rest,” he added.

Nasir’s admission was among the many allegations made in the past by former army personnel who claimed to have followed similar instructions.

The ex-army man then said he had deep regrets about his actions but could not do anything as he was merely following orders.

Having retired, Nasir said that he was now free of fear.

“I took the rights of others (to vote). But as a soldier, I am only a yes man. Now that I am no longer in the army, no longer tied to the ruling government, I can speak out,” he added.

EC’s promises ring hollow
PAS election director Mohd Sany Hamzan said Nasir’s complaints had been highlighted since two years ago and the Election Commission had yet to address the issue despite several promises made.

“The system remains the same and is subject to abuse. Nothing has been done,” he said, adding that he had met with EC chief Abdul Aziz Yusof himself to convey his concerns.

PAS and its allies in Pakatan Rakyat had long accused BN and the EC of manipulating postal votes to favour the ruling government. The nation’s security forces are largely seen as reliable vote banks for BN.

The opposition bloc also raised the alarm over the drastic rise in postal voters throughout the country as it prepared to face a pivotal battle in the 13th national polls which is likely to be held early next year.

EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar had said that national figures for registered postal voters from the armed forces were about 134,000, and for the police, about 80,000 in the last count.

Polls watchdog Bersih 2.0, which had now gained international recognition for its fight against election abuses, also called on the EC to look into claims of abuses in the postal vote system.

Both BN and EC denied any wrongdoing and cited Pakatan’s election gains in 2008 as proof.

The opposition bloc denied BN its two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized five states during the last election.

[File pix of army personnel casting their postal vote]

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‘Clueless’ M’sian foreign missions

MOV has discovered that Malaysian embassies and high commissions abroad are fumbling with voting processes with some still practicing discriminatory rules.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian consulates abroad have shockingly scant knowledge of Malaysia’s voter registration and voting processes, according to a survey by MyOverseasVote (MOV).

MOV also discovered that each of the 21 consulates surveyed had its own set of regulations for voter registration and were poorly equipped to register full-time students as postal voters.

MOV is a campaign that is pushing for the right of all Malaysians living abroad to vote regardless of profession.

The Election Commission (EC) currently permits only full-time students, civil servants and members of the armed forces to register as postal voters.

“Answers on details of registration and actual voting process differed from one embassy/high commission/consulate to another,” MOV said in a statement today.

“At worst, consular staff readily admit they don’t know about postal voting and are waiting for instruction from the EC or the Foreign Office.”

MOV learnt that some embassies will mail the Form-A to an applicant and request that it be returned to the embassy. Others, like that in Sydney, insisted that the form be returned directly to the EC.

Embassies in Rome and Berne meanwhile are only open for postal voter registration when Wisma Putra gives them the green light. The embassy in Singapore requires a letter from a voter’s college.

Embassies in Mumbai and Bangkok on the other hand have admitted to not knowing about postal voting and are not supplied with copies of Form-A.

“The Form-A for ordinary and postal voter registration can be downloaded from the EC website,” MOV pointed out. “But some embassies don’t accept downloaded application forms while others are unsure about its use.”

“The EC also doesn’t seem to have a stringent or consistent way to vet applicants based on their status as a student. As such we are not convinced that ‘security’ is the reason for barring working or retired Malaysians living abroad from voting.”

Independent investigation

MOV also highlighted a practice in Canberra and New York City that still bars non-government-sponsored students from registering as postal voters. This is despite a recent directive from the EC reminding its outposts that all full-time students are allowed to register.

However, it also acknowledged the EC’s swift action in overturning this rule in London and Paris after the matter was raised in February.

“Given how this discriminatory rule was once implemented across the embassies, one can discern a discrimination against Malaysian voters who are not linked to the government,” MOV stated.

“An investigation to ascertain the history of this practice should be carried out by an independent party not linked to the EC or Wisma Putra.”

MOV maintained that the EC has no valid grounds to discriminate against overseas Malaysians who are not students, civil servants or members of the armed forces.

It also rejected the excuse of an identification problem to deny this section of Malaysians their postal vote as a MyKad and/or passport with a matching thumbprint can easily identify a Malaysian citizen.

“The EC must overturn the current arbitrary law which defines who can and who cannot vote with a postal vote,” MOV said. “The current regulations are against Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees equal treatment for all citizens under the law.”

“All Malaysians living overseas who qualify as ‘ordinary voters’ should be entitled to vote with a postal ballot.”

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Malaysians, Arise: The BN is cheating us of our voting rights. Stop them NOW

In response to Bersih, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, the Election Commission has stridently maintained that its voter rolls are clean and elections are conducted in a free and fair manner. Prime Minister Najib has also gone around saying there is no need for Bersih because elections are always free and fair in Malaysia. Right thinking Malaysians know better and have learned to discount these platitudes with a smirk.

Now we have further proof that elections in Malaysia are anything but free and fair. In fact the 13th general election may be the dirtiest ever. PAS has uncovered hard evidence of a plot to stuff the electoral rolls with foreigners given instant citizenship. It is breathtaking in its audacity and totally unconscionable in disregarding social consequences. Is BN so desperate to win that it is willing to barter the future of the country for another stint in power?

Malaysiakini reported the case of one Mismah registered as voter in Ijok which was won by PKR’s Khalid Ibrahim, now the Mentri Besar of Selangor. A check with the National Registration Dept (NRD) online verification system in the morning show that this Mismah is a permanent resident and hence not entitled to be registered as a voter. Four hours after the report was published, another online check on the individual concerned showed that she had suddenly become a citizen and collected her blue MyKad.

Sabah All Over Again

This is not an isolated case but the tip of the iceberg. PAS reported a total of 1,597 similar cases nationwide on the same day and 1,100 in Selangor alone. They appear to be targeted at opposition held constituencies. Obviously there is an ongoing collusion between the EC and the NRD to grant instant citizenship to foreigners and they have been caught red handed. This may be what Najib means when he issued the clarion call to get back Selangor at any cost.

There are few regimes in the world which would stoop to such despicable tactics to win an election. Even the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe did not stoop so low when he was fighting tooth and nail for his Presidency against a rival with widespread support. The assimilation of massive numbers of unskilled labourers as instant citizens will create great social problems as can be witnessed in Sabah which was subjected to similar tactics by Mahathir in the 1990s. The people of Sabah are still suffering now from the hordes of naturalized foreigners from Southern Philippines who now outnumber them.

Citizenship cannot be withdrawn after the election so these instant citizens are here to stay. They and their children will compete with locals for houses, schools, hospitals, jobs, government services, retail trade, etc. As these new citizens are also bumiputras Malays stand to lose the most. They will have to compete with the more aggressive foreigners for scholarships, tertiary places and government assistance. Price of food and houses will rise. Crime which is already high may be pushed up further.

For real Malaysians who have to struggle for 20 or 30 years to be recognized as citizens due to some mistake in their papers this instant citizenship is especially galling. What a slap on their long suffering faces.

Bersih Has Been Justified

This shows that Bersih’s campaign for free and fair elections is valid and timely despite BN’s insistence that we already have free and fair elections. It is obvious why the regime feels so threatened by Bersih as they depend heavily on a compromised electoral process to win.

What about the EC’s proud claim that it goes through a 33 step verification process before it puts anybody on the rolls? If the people in the system are dishonest it matters not how many verification steps they purportedly go through.

The EC’s dogged determination to implement a biometric system instead of the cheaper and better indelible ink is now understandable. A computerized biometric system which is opaque to outsiders gives far more scope for cheating. The government’s ongoing exercise to register 2 millon legal and illegal foreign workers with amnesty for the illegal ones using biometric is now highly suspect.

Where is the voice of Perkasa, the self-appointed defender of the Malay race now that the rights of native Malays are being diluted and infringed on? If Perkasa truly defends Malays they should speak out and oppose this instead of proving once and for all that they are nothing more than Umno stooges.

We sorely need a Bersih 3.0 for right thinking citizens to express their outrage at this monstrous betrayal of the election system and the country. Bersih 3.0 should be held in every major town in West and East Malaysia to prevent a repeat of the police locking up a city.

A Call to Vote!

What can be done to counter the assault on the country’s sovereignty by a corrupt and immoral party determined to hold on to power by foul means? All the instruments of government are under the control of the ruling party from the Election Commission to the National Registration Dept, the police, the MACC, the Registrar of Societies, the Attorney-General chambers and the judiciary. Even the Royalty are beyond the plea of citizens. Will complaints to the authorities help?

The authorities will do nothing. The citizens of Malaysia can only depend on themselves to protect their country and their way of life. Everybody who is 21 and above should register as voters and we should vote out BN decisively. We should all vote massively against BN and overwhelm their cheating.

When I say all, I mean including those who are pro-BN. This is no longer a contest between two political coalitions but a call to save your country from the scoundrels who are hell bent on destroying it to maintain their power. When the country is overrun by foreigners who have more rights than many of us, everybody suffers no matter which party you support.

Spread the news, call for help

The opposition must spread the news far and wide and garner support from both sides of the political divide. Let this monstrous manipulation of citizenship backfire on BN and be the spark which kicks BN out of power.

From now, everyone put on your thinking cap. We have to find ways to fight back, co-ordinate ideas and make sure that the electoral rolls are cleaned up one way or another before GE-13. No way can we allow the BN to cheat us of our rights in broad daylight.

An appeal to Ambiga and Bersih 2.0 team, please re-group and co-ordinate the counter-moves that the people of Malaysia will need to reclaim their sovereignty. Malaysian diaspora, arise and raise the alarm across the globe. Let us show these guys, True Malaysians won't stand for it. We can speak, we have a VOICE!

Believe us, it is NOT a moment too early, it may already be a second too late. But while there is still a chance, let us begin NOW.

- Malaysia Chronicle

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