EC: No phantom voters on electoral roll
March 31, 2011
http://www.niei.org.my/?p=721
MIRI: There are no phantom voters in the state, said Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.
He said this was because the electoral roll had gone through proper checking, verification and clearing by the commission.
“Until now we did not detect or receive any complaints from anyone, particularly from political parties, on the issue (phantom voters) during every election in Sarawak,” said Wan Ahmad after attending a briefing yesterday.
He explained that the names of voters who had passed away had been removed from the roll.
“We have gone through the electoral list before and until the dissolution of the state cabinet on March 21. We are working together with the National Registration Department, checking on those who have passed away.”
However, he said it was inevitable that some names might still be on the electoral roll because they passed away after the dissolution.
He also clarified that those who were not living in the towns or villages where they registered could still return to vote in those areas.
“It is their right for some to go back to their home towns to vote after living and working in other towns or states and they cannot be categorised as phantom voters,” Wan Ahmad said.
The EC was confident that the electoral roll was clean, he said, and that there were no duplication of names and polling stations.
Voters, he said, would also be properly screened as they had to produce their MyKad at polling stations in order to vote.
On the EC’s preparation of logistics in rural areas, Wan Ahmad said: “We are very confident and optimistic that everything would run smoothly.”
He said they had planned based on past experience and anticipation of the number of voters and locality.
“We have learnt from past experience and anticipation. But then anything could happen and we will deal
with the situation if it happens.
“As far as our preparations are concerned, they are all done equally with proper focus and concentration,” he said, adding that the last result would be announced by 11pm.
news source:borneopost online
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
PEMERHATI PILIHANRAYA MAFREL UNTUK SARAWAK
MAFREL NEEDS OBSERVERS MAINLY FROM SARAWAK FOR THE COMING SARAWAK ELECTION. THOSE INTERESTED TO JOIN US, PLEASE SEND EMAIL TO Col (R) SHAHARUDIN AS THE MISSION DIRECTOR
shaharudinop65@yahoo.com.my
Tel 019 2344 366
shaharudinop65@yahoo.com.my
Tel 019 2344 366
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Nine seats seen as ‘hot’
Tuesday March 29, 2011
Nine seats seen as ‘hot’
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) has identified nine state constituencies where it believes there will be intense campaigning.
On the list is Balingian, where Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is the incumbent.
“Based on our records, we feel that Balingian will be a hot area,” EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said here yesterday.
The other constituencies are: Pantai Damai, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Kedup, Repok, Dudong, Pelawan and Nangka. Most of these constituencies are those that the Barisan Nasional won with slim majorities in the 2006 state election.
In each of these areas, the EC will field two enforcement teams. However, Wan Ahmad denied that the increased enforcement was based on the Barisan’s ability to win.
“No, we are not choosing according to grey or black areas. These are just areas where the EC has seen a lot of campaign activities in the past,” Ahmad told reporters prior to a seminar for Kuching EC officials.
Based on in-house surveys, Barisan parties are known to label seats with strong opposition support in darker shades.
“Of the nine identified constituencies, most are close to urban areas,” Wan Ahmad said.
Kota Sentosa was won by an opposition party (DAP) in the last election.
Four other areas that would see an increased enforcement presence were those won by SUPP in 2006. In Repok, SUPP won with a majority of only 576 votes while in Pelawan the winning majority was even smaller at 263 votes.
The other two-team constituencies were won by PBB.
The practice of having EC enforcement teams was introduced in 2004.
“Since then, the EC has had at least one enforcement team in each constituency,” Wan Ahmad said.
He said the teams would comprise officers from the police, local councils and representatives of the candidates. An EC official would be appointed to lead each team.
“The team leader will make decisions based on discussions with the members. I think that most of the teams will have about five members in constituencies that will see straight fights,” Wan Ahmad said.
He said the teams would look into legal aspects, like whether banners and rallies had permits, and on sensitive comments and statements.
“We can’t have statements encouraging racial or religious disorder or using the names of the monarchs.”
On illegal banners, he said the EC would grant a 24-hour period for their removal.
“If the offending candidate or party refuse to take down the material, public officials will do it. If people try to stop us, it is against the law,” he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/29/sarawak/8364460&sec=sarawak
Nine seats seen as ‘hot’
By YU JI
yuji@thestar.com.my
KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) has identified nine state constituencies where it believes there will be intense campaigning.
On the list is Balingian, where Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud is the incumbent.
“Based on our records, we feel that Balingian will be a hot area,” EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said here yesterday.
The other constituencies are: Pantai Damai, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Kedup, Repok, Dudong, Pelawan and Nangka. Most of these constituencies are those that the Barisan Nasional won with slim majorities in the 2006 state election.
In each of these areas, the EC will field two enforcement teams. However, Wan Ahmad denied that the increased enforcement was based on the Barisan’s ability to win.
“No, we are not choosing according to grey or black areas. These are just areas where the EC has seen a lot of campaign activities in the past,” Ahmad told reporters prior to a seminar for Kuching EC officials.
Based on in-house surveys, Barisan parties are known to label seats with strong opposition support in darker shades.
“Of the nine identified constituencies, most are close to urban areas,” Wan Ahmad said.
Kota Sentosa was won by an opposition party (DAP) in the last election.
Four other areas that would see an increased enforcement presence were those won by SUPP in 2006. In Repok, SUPP won with a majority of only 576 votes while in Pelawan the winning majority was even smaller at 263 votes.
The other two-team constituencies were won by PBB.
The practice of having EC enforcement teams was introduced in 2004.
“Since then, the EC has had at least one enforcement team in each constituency,” Wan Ahmad said.
He said the teams would comprise officers from the police, local councils and representatives of the candidates. An EC official would be appointed to lead each team.
“The team leader will make decisions based on discussions with the members. I think that most of the teams will have about five members in constituencies that will see straight fights,” Wan Ahmad said.
He said the teams would look into legal aspects, like whether banners and rallies had permits, and on sensitive comments and statements.
“We can’t have statements encouraging racial or religious disorder or using the names of the monarchs.”
On illegal banners, he said the EC would grant a 24-hour period for their removal.
“If the offending candidate or party refuse to take down the material, public officials will do it. If people try to stop us, it is against the law,” he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/29/sarawak/8364460&sec=sarawak
Last chance for Mafrel to show its commitment
Last chance for Mafrel to show its commitment
Posted on March 29, 2011, Tuesday
KUCHING: Malaysians for Free and Fair Election (Mafrel) has to prove its commitment and seriousness during the coming Sarawak state polls if it wants to remain as the country’s official independent election observer.
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said although Mafrel in the past had failed to fulfill the terms and conditions set by EC it is given a second and last chance in the coming state election.
He said even though at one stage EC had stopped appointing Mafrel as the official independent election observer it was recently reinstated after it made an appeal to the authority.
“Yes, Mafrel had been appointed to be the official independent observer in several general and by-elections of the country in the past but they had failed to submit any observation report to EC.
“There are 18 major and minor terms and conditions accredited observers have to fulfill where one of the preconditions is that after every by-election they have to submit a written observation report to EC and this had never been done by Mafrel,” said Wan Ahmad.
He said among the important conditions to be fulfilled by any organisation accredited as official election observer were that they must be non-partisan and should not issue any media or press statements.
“We will immediately stop our accreditation for any of their accredited members who make media or press statements. This is because the duty given to them is to monitor and report to EC the election weakness and process.
“Their feedback in the form of report is to help us in our postmortem so as to improve our electoral process and election activities in the future,” he disclosed.
Speaking to the press at a news conference here yesterday, he said Mafrel was reinstated as the official observer for the coming Sarawak state election and this would be the last chance for the body to prove its seriousness and commitment.
“If they still fail to submit their written observation report to us or fail to fulfil any other terms and conditions we will not appoint them anymore. We will look for another NGO that is truly committed and serious as official election observer,” he added.
He also said that there were a few NGOs in Sarawak interested to become observers in the coming state election but accreditation was only given to Mafrel being a nationwide organisation.
“Many are requesting to be accredited as official observer but only one was approved because we don’t want them to have conflicting interests.
“So for those that want to participate in election observation they have to incorporate into Mafrel so that it will be easier for us to monitor them,” he stressed.
He explained that they would be meeting Mafrel today to ensure that the organisation will follow the stipulated terms and conditions.
He said, among other things, they want to make it very clear that Mafrel is an independent NGO appointed by EC to observe elections and it has no authority to take any action against election offenders.
“Its role is just as an independent observer. It cannot disrupt the process of the election and it does not have the authority,” he said.
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=110421
Posted on March 29, 2011, Tuesday
KUCHING: Malaysians for Free and Fair Election (Mafrel) has to prove its commitment and seriousness during the coming Sarawak state polls if it wants to remain as the country’s official independent election observer.
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said although Mafrel in the past had failed to fulfill the terms and conditions set by EC it is given a second and last chance in the coming state election.
He said even though at one stage EC had stopped appointing Mafrel as the official independent election observer it was recently reinstated after it made an appeal to the authority.
“Yes, Mafrel had been appointed to be the official independent observer in several general and by-elections of the country in the past but they had failed to submit any observation report to EC.
“There are 18 major and minor terms and conditions accredited observers have to fulfill where one of the preconditions is that after every by-election they have to submit a written observation report to EC and this had never been done by Mafrel,” said Wan Ahmad.
He said among the important conditions to be fulfilled by any organisation accredited as official election observer were that they must be non-partisan and should not issue any media or press statements.
“We will immediately stop our accreditation for any of their accredited members who make media or press statements. This is because the duty given to them is to monitor and report to EC the election weakness and process.
“Their feedback in the form of report is to help us in our postmortem so as to improve our electoral process and election activities in the future,” he disclosed.
Speaking to the press at a news conference here yesterday, he said Mafrel was reinstated as the official observer for the coming Sarawak state election and this would be the last chance for the body to prove its seriousness and commitment.
“If they still fail to submit their written observation report to us or fail to fulfil any other terms and conditions we will not appoint them anymore. We will look for another NGO that is truly committed and serious as official election observer,” he added.
He also said that there were a few NGOs in Sarawak interested to become observers in the coming state election but accreditation was only given to Mafrel being a nationwide organisation.
“Many are requesting to be accredited as official observer but only one was approved because we don’t want them to have conflicting interests.
“So for those that want to participate in election observation they have to incorporate into Mafrel so that it will be easier for us to monitor them,” he stressed.
He explained that they would be meeting Mafrel today to ensure that the organisation will follow the stipulated terms and conditions.
He said, among other things, they want to make it very clear that Mafrel is an independent NGO appointed by EC to observe elections and it has no authority to take any action against election offenders.
“Its role is just as an independent observer. It cannot disrupt the process of the election and it does not have the authority,” he said.
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=110421
Mafrel reinvited as official observer
MALAYSIANS for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has been re-invited by the Election Commission (EC) to be its official observer for the coming 10th Sarawak election.
“We have reinstated Mafrel, but they have to follow all the 18 rules we’ve listed,” commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said yesterday.
Among the rules, he said, was that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) had been banned from making public statements.
The rules: Wan Ahmad holding a copy of the commission’s enforcement guidelines during a press conference in Kuching.
“Also, Mafrel’s observers have to be non-partisan. They cannot campaign or get involved in any way other than observe.”
Wan Ahmad said Mafrel’s role was to submit written reports once the election was over.
“Their job is just to monitor, record the election’s weaknesses, process the information, and give us the feedback.”
The EC deputy chairman was speaking to reporters prior to the start of a seminar on election enforcement here.
Marfel, which formed in Oct 2003 and describes itself as an election watchdog, was appointed by EC as the first and only NGO observer during 2004 11th parliamentary election.
However, in recent years, the EC has dissociated itself from the organisation.
Wan Ahmad said some Mafrel members had failed to be non-partisan.
The EC official also claimed Mafrel had never submitted any written report.
“Yes it’s true,” Wan Ahmad replied to a question on the matter.
“We didn’t appoint Mafrel for several recent by-elections like in Tenang, Kerdau, Galas, among others. So they appealed to us, and we are willing to give them a second chance. So this time they really must submit written reports.”
Wan Ahmad then defended the organisation, saying, as a whole, Mafrel had good intentions.
“Maybe some of its members were overzealous.”
To a related question, Wan Ahmad said other NGOs had requested to be EC’s appointed watchdog. However, the EC had encouraged these organisations to become part of Mafrel, he said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt yesterday that Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) had been invited by Mafrel to field election observers.
In an email, MoCS president Francis Siah claimed Mafrel preferred to have Sarawakians observe the election.
“So far, five MoCS members have signed up to be observers in the Kuching area.”
Wan Ahmad said EC was in its final lap of preparations. Today, its enforcement seminar reaches Sibu, and Miri the day after.
About RM50mil have been budgeted for this state election, making it the most expensive ever.
Between nomination and polling day, the EC will use about 4,000 land vehicles, 800 longboats and 27 helicopters, including aircraft from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Mafrel reinvited as official observer
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/29/sarawak/8364602&sec=sarawak
MALAYSIANS for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has been re-invited by the Election Commission (EC) to be its official observer for the coming 10th Sarawak election.
“We have reinstated Mafrel, but they have to follow all the 18 rules we’ve listed,” commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said yesterday.
Among the rules, he said, was that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) had been banned from making public statements.
The rules: Wan Ahmad holding a copy of the commission’s enforcement guidelines during a press conference in Kuching.
“Also, Mafrel’s observers have to be non-partisan. They cannot campaign or get involved in any way other than observe.”
Wan Ahmad said Mafrel’s role was to submit written reports once the election was over.
“Their job is just to monitor, record the election’s weaknesses, process the information, and give us the feedback.”
The EC deputy chairman was speaking to reporters prior to the start of a seminar on election enforcement here.
Marfel, which formed in Oct 2003 and describes itself as an election watchdog, was appointed by EC as the first and only NGO observer during 2004 11th parliamentary election.
However, in recent years, the EC has dissociated itself from the organisation.
Wan Ahmad said some Mafrel members had failed to be non-partisan.
The EC official also claimed Mafrel had never submitted any written report.
“Yes it’s true,” Wan Ahmad replied to a question on the matter.
“We didn’t appoint Mafrel for several recent by-elections like in Tenang, Kerdau, Galas, among others. So they appealed to us, and we are willing to give them a second chance. So this time they really must submit written reports.”
Wan Ahmad then defended the organisation, saying, as a whole, Mafrel had good intentions.
“Maybe some of its members were overzealous.”
To a related question, Wan Ahmad said other NGOs had requested to be EC’s appointed watchdog. However, the EC had encouraged these organisations to become part of Mafrel, he said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt yesterday that Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) had been invited by Mafrel to field election observers.
In an email, MoCS president Francis Siah claimed Mafrel preferred to have Sarawakians observe the election.
“So far, five MoCS members have signed up to be observers in the Kuching area.”
Wan Ahmad said EC was in its final lap of preparations. Today, its enforcement seminar reaches Sibu, and Miri the day after.
About RM50mil have been budgeted for this state election, making it the most expensive ever.
Between nomination and polling day, the EC will use about 4,000 land vehicles, 800 longboats and 27 helicopters, including aircraft from Indonesia and the Philippines.
MALAYSIANS for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has been re-invited by the Election Commission (EC) to be its official observer for the coming 10th Sarawak election.
“We have reinstated Mafrel, but they have to follow all the 18 rules we’ve listed,” commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said yesterday.
Among the rules, he said, was that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) had been banned from making public statements.
The rules: Wan Ahmad holding a copy of the commission’s enforcement guidelines during a press conference in Kuching.
“Also, Mafrel’s observers have to be non-partisan. They cannot campaign or get involved in any way other than observe.”
Wan Ahmad said Mafrel’s role was to submit written reports once the election was over.
“Their job is just to monitor, record the election’s weaknesses, process the information, and give us the feedback.”
The EC deputy chairman was speaking to reporters prior to the start of a seminar on election enforcement here.
Marfel, which formed in Oct 2003 and describes itself as an election watchdog, was appointed by EC as the first and only NGO observer during 2004 11th parliamentary election.
However, in recent years, the EC has dissociated itself from the organisation.
Wan Ahmad said some Mafrel members had failed to be non-partisan.
The EC official also claimed Mafrel had never submitted any written report.
“Yes it’s true,” Wan Ahmad replied to a question on the matter.
“We didn’t appoint Mafrel for several recent by-elections like in Tenang, Kerdau, Galas, among others. So they appealed to us, and we are willing to give them a second chance. So this time they really must submit written reports.”
Wan Ahmad then defended the organisation, saying, as a whole, Mafrel had good intentions.
“Maybe some of its members were overzealous.”
To a related question, Wan Ahmad said other NGOs had requested to be EC’s appointed watchdog. However, the EC had encouraged these organisations to become part of Mafrel, he said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt yesterday that Movement for Change Sarawak (MoCS) had been invited by Mafrel to field election observers.
In an email, MoCS president Francis Siah claimed Mafrel preferred to have Sarawakians observe the election.
“So far, five MoCS members have signed up to be observers in the Kuching area.”
Wan Ahmad said EC was in its final lap of preparations. Today, its enforcement seminar reaches Sibu, and Miri the day after.
About RM50mil have been budgeted for this state election, making it the most expensive ever.
Between nomination and polling day, the EC will use about 4,000 land vehicles, 800 longboats and 27 helicopters, including aircraft from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)