The Malaysian Insider
July 15, 2013
The simple summary of Pakatan Rakyat’s suit in court today is that it did not get a fair election. The question now is, what can and will the courts do?
No matter how you slice or dice it, it is tough for Pakatan to win its suit against the Election Commission (EC) because courts here are loath to disturb anything to do with elections. It is even rare for election courts to overturn polls results.
What more nullifying the whole Election 2013.
Also, Malaysian courts have in recent years not demonstrated a willingness to confront the government of the day on various issues – be it conversions of minors to land matters.
That said, it is remains important for Pakatan to thoroughly detail its cases in which it believed fraud prevented it from winning on May 5, 2013. In dispute are at least 43 seats before the courts.
But what is quite clear is that the EC’s handling of the indelible ink over the past five years would have made the Keystone Kops proud. Never have we seen a commission blunder and make a hash of things the way it has.
All these years under the Prime Minister’s Department has insulated it so much so that it has fallen out of touch with the people and the need to be independent.
One hopes having parliamentary oversight will at least improve the commission because more is needed than a change of staff, and that is a change of mindset.
The commission has one job only, conduct free and fair elections. But Pakatan and other civil societies have complained that they have done the reverse.
So, the courts now have to decide whether Pakatan’s lawsuit has merits or the EC did conduct free and fair elections on May 5. – July 15, 2013.
#1 by omeqiu on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 10:15 am
PR’s emphasis in the court is the indelible ink. Can PR prove double/treble voting? Case dismissed with costs.
#2 by black dog on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 10:50 am
What is sad about is not the indelible ink, not the phantom voter, not helicopter with ballot box, not bus load of illegal voter. What sadden me is they can’t even cheat properly! indelible ink that can be wash away and expect no body to ask question, helicopter went to poll station and expect no body ask any question, light out in poll station after more than 50 times organizing national voting and still expect no body ask any question. What is TRULY sad it that now we are govern by such guys which are not only morally bankrupt but also not even capable pulling of a decent cheat!
#3 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 11:56 am
‘… The commission has one job only, conduct free and fair elections…. ‘
Let us also note that they have expanded their role and powers to include them deciding when a vacancy arises and whether they will conduct a by-election e.g. the Perak cases.
It is good that the EC members are now being sued individually as this will make them realise that their individual roles are being scrutinised and they individually will be held to account.
#4 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 1:09 pm
My guess. It will be a show.
There are many cases. Just to show the people that umno is fair umno would direct the court to allow one (at the most, two) of the petitions (where the evidence of cheating is glaringly obvious) and to throw out the rest.
And guess what? The petition court would comply.
End of story.
#5 by Winston on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 4:08 pm
Never have we seen a commission blunder and make a hash of things the way it has. – End of quote
Blunder??
#6 by worldpress on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 6:28 pm
Totally a SCAM
#7 by negarawan on Tuesday, 16 July 2013 - 10:23 pm
A worldwide awareness campaign on the corrupted EC of Malaysia has to be done so that world leaders will not get deceived by Najip and UMNO. International pressure needs to be escalated.