Friday, March 12, 2010

PENANG TO REVIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

PRESS PRESS STATEMENT BY MAFREL
Date : March 6, 2010

PENANG TO REVIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

MAFREL welcomes the announcement by the Penang Chief Minister to hold local elections for both its local councils - Municipal Council of Penang Island and Seberang Perai Municipal Council. This is definitely a positive development towards the right direction in strengthening democracy in Malaysia. The last local elections were conducted more than forty years ago before it was suspended in 1964.

MAFREL congratulates the Penang State Government under the leadership of YAB Lim Guan Eng in finally delivering the promise made in 12th Malaysia General Elections on local elections to Penang electors. MAFREL hopes SPR will reciprocate positively to the invitation from Penang State Government in order to give Penangites the opportunity to elect their own local councilors.

SYED IBRAHIM SYED NOH
Chairman
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL)

About MAFREL

About MAFREL

MAFREL is a non-partisan election observation and monitoring organization formed in 2003.


Since its inception, MAFREL has conducted electoral rolls verification programmes to research on the issues of phantom voters and authenticity of the electoral rolls in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur .

MAFREL has also extensive experience in election observation and since December 2005, has conducted extensive election observations in the Pengkalan Pasir, Kelantan by-election (December 2005), the 9th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Elections (2006), the N.6 Batu Talam by-election (2007), the N.8 Machap by-election (2007), the N.11 Ijok by-election (2007).

In March 2008 MAFREL received official accreditation from Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia (SPR) to observe the 12th General Election.

MAFREL’s last involvement as accredited observers was in the N.31 Bagan Pinang by-election in October, 2009.

MAFREL has also participated in international election observation missions in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Thailand and Bangladesh.

For more information, please contact:

Chairman : Tuan Hj Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh Al Habshi.
Deputy Chairman : Colonel (R) Shaharudin Othman – 019 2344 366
Honorary Secretary : Arphan Ahmad – 012 273 1016