Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Teluk Intan On 27.5.2014.
Even though the Election Commission(EC) has no enforcement powers to punish those who violate the Election Offences Act, the EC is not free, fair and independent if the EC fails to condemn but instead condone BN leaders who practice money politics. Malaysiakini reported that a single mother in Taman Semarak, Teluk Intan P Panjalay has alleged that Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil visited her house with RM 500 cash and pampers for her daughters in return for canvassing support for BN.
Shahrizat denied that she was using cash and gifts to fish for votes because she was visiting clients of the National Welfare Foundation as chairperson of the foundation. Sharizat should know that the Election Offences Act 1954 states clearly that a person involved in certain activities that may influence voters is guilty of vote buying and bribery, whether done directly or indirectly.
Previously, Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek promised to improve the constituency’s broadband, while Federal Territory Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor promised the local Indian community a crematorium and a wedding hall only if BN wins the Teluk Intan by-election.
Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran had accused BN of giving out hampers worth about RM150 each to families at the Nova Scotia Estate in Teluk Intan last Thursday. Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told volunteer corps Rela members they would get new uniforms if BN wins, while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched the RM5 billion West Coast Expressway urging the people to give BN credit.
EC chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, however, said there was nothing wrong in Zahid’s statement, as the Umno vice-president had not violated any election regulations. This is most shocking and unacceptable. Even if EC has no enforcement powers, the EC should uphold and not violate the law by condemning such vote-buying.
The inaction of EC has resulted in BN leaders behaving like feudal overlords spreading largesse only during by-elections. Is democracy in Malaysia reduced to voters hoping that there will be by-elections to find a solution to their long-standing problems? EC’s role as an apologist for BN only reinforces PR’s demands that the EC members resign because of their utter failure to uphold the law without fear or favour, regardless of rank or position to conduct free, fair and independent elections.
LIM GUAN ENG
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民主行动党秘书长暨峇眼国会议员林冠英于2014年5月27日于安顺发表的文告
即使选举委员会没有执法权对付违反选举罪案法令的人，但如果选委会不敢谴责相反地却纵容国阵领袖使用金钱政治，选委会仍旧是一个不自由、不公平及不独立的选委会。
即使选举委员会没有执法权对付违反选举罪案法令的人，但如果选委会不敢谴责相反地却纵容国阵领袖使用金钱政治，选委会仍旧是一个不自由、不公平及不独立的选委会。《当今大马》报导在安顺Taman Semarak的P潘杰拉女士指控巫统妇女组主席莎莉扎阿都贾里尔拜访她住家给予500令吉及送纸尿片给她女儿，作为支持国阵的回酬。
莎莉扎否认她使用现金及礼物拉票，因为她是以国家福利基金主席的身份登门拜访。莎莉扎应该知道1954年选举罪案法令清楚列明个人参与能影响选民的特定活动，无论是直接买票贿赂，或是间接买票贿赂，都是犯下了买票及贿赂罪。
较早前，通讯与多媒体部长阿末沙比里承诺将提升安顺选区的宽频，联邦直辖区部长东姑安南则承诺印度社群如果在安顺补选胜选，将在当地建立火葬场及结婚礼堂。
怡保西区国会议员M古拉指控国阵上周四派发价值高达150令吉的礼篮给安顺Nova Scotia 园丘的每户家庭。内政部长阿末扎希则告知RELA自愿队成员如果国阵胜选，他们将获得新的制服，还有副首相慕尤丁推展50亿令吉的西海岸高速公路的时候，要求人们支持国阵。
选委会主席，丹斯里阿都阿兹表示阿末扎希上述的言论并没有错，他认为巫统副主席并没有违反选举法规。这是多么让人震惊及难以接受的说法，纵使选委会没有执法权，但他们应该捍卫法治谴责这种买票行为，而不是自己也违反法治的说这种话。
选委会的无能已经导致国阵领袖在补选的行为犹如封建土豪慷慨挥霍。马来西亚的民主到底还能不能凭着补选，真正寻求解决选民长期存在的民膜？选委会俨然扮演着国阵的辩护者，这只会加强民联要求选委会成员集体辞职，因为他们完全无法无畏无惧、不偏不倚及不怕位高权重者地捍卫法治，以进行一个自由、公平及独立的选举。
林冠英