Tuesday, December 27, 2011

New group mobilising observers for clean elections

New group mobilising observers for clean elections
By Yvonne Lim  

http://goodtimes.my/index.php/Politics-Government/new-group-joins-mafrel-for-clean-and-fair-election.html

A group of concerned Malaysians has teamed up with election watchdog Malaysians For Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL) to set up Cekap Elections Observers (CEO) to ensure the coming general election is clean and fair.

They are aiming to mobilise as many members of the Malaysian public as possible to volunteer to be trained as independent, non-partisan election observers (EO) to watch over the entire election process.
Alexa Ho, a pastor at Community Baptist Church, and four others are the initiators of this project.
“As citizens of Malaysia, our right is not just to vote, but to make a difference by being an observer and voicing out when we see irregularities in the system or any suspicious behaviour during the elections.


“What is really important is not our biasness or preference of one party over another – it is about being fair. No matter which party wins or loses, it is most important that it is all done fairly and cleanly,” Ho stresses.
CEO was officially launched on Aug 2 by putting up their Facebook page which is already gaining popularity. To date, it has more than 122 “likes”. The group intends to utilise all the social networks, including Twitter and Google +, to promote its cause.
Various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in MAFREL’s networks have been approached to advertise the EO training programmes.
While the training is completely free of charge, no incentive in any form will be given to the volunteers.
“To be completely honest, to volunteer as an EO will cost you – your money and time. But the reward is a clean and fair election. I think it is worth it,” says Ho who leads CEO.
The minimum age to be an EO during the general election is 21 years, but Ho says the “youngsters” can also participate and help in pre-election observation. Those below the age of 21 are also invited to attend the EO training.
An EO will play several important roles throughout the whole election process – from checking of the electoral roll, observing the nomination process for suspicious behaviour until the actual election day.
“They are there to check through the electoral roll for any irregularities and watch the entire process from nomination till polling day,” explains MAFREL deputy chairman Colonel Shahrudin Othman.
“On polling day, if they are allowed into the polling stations as observers, they will watch from the inside. If not, they will observe outside the polling station for any suspicious behavior, such as intimidation, harassment or buying of votes.”
The EOs will then document their observations and MAFREL will compile these into a report which will be distributed to the relevant parties, such as the Election Commission (EC) and universities to be analysed and acted upon.
CEO hopes to gather at least 1,000 volunteers to be trained as EOs by MAFREL before the coming election.
At the training sessions, MAFREL will teach volunteers how to look out for irregularities in the electoral roll, detect suspicious behaviour, as well as document their observations.
MAFREL will subsequently apply with EC for the election observers to be issued passes to be allowed into the polling stations. “But whether the EC will give it or not, we don’t know,” says Shahrudin.
Two tentative dates in September have been set aside for the training, which will be held in Petaling Jaya and Cheras. The time and exact venue for the training will be posted on CEO’s Facebook page.
Ho urges all Malaysians to come forward and volunteer themselves to be independent EOs.
For more information on CEO and MAFREL, log on to CEO’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cekapelections


    

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Kenyataan Akhbar - 22 Disember 2011

j

MAFREL (640757-M)

Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections


Lot 300.1, Lorong Selangor, Pusat Bandar Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : +6013 3682067 (Chairman)  +6012 2731016 (Hon Secretary)



Kenyataan Akhbar



22 Disember 2011



Respons MAFREL terhadap Cadangan Pembaharuan Proses Pilihan Raya oleh SPR



Suruhan Pilihan Raya Malaysia (SPR) telah mengumumkan pada 19 Disember 2011 beberapa pembaharuan dalam proses pilihan raya negara. Antaranya yang disebutkan oleh Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof ialah berhubung penggunaan dakwat kekal, pengundian awal, pemansuhan tempoh bantahan, tempoh tambahan pameran senarai daftar pengundi dan kemudahan untuk pengundi OKU. Menurut beliau, semua perubahan ini akan dilaksanakan dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang.



Dakwat Kekal



Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL), Badan Pemantau Pilihan Raya Malaysia menyambut baik penggunaan dakwat kekal yang boleh mencegah pemilih berganda. Saranan ini telah sebenarnya dibuat oleh MAFREL sejak sebelum PRU ke 12 lagi dan kemudian disuarakan pula oleh pelbagai pihak termasuk BERSIH 2.0 sebagai langkah yang paling mudah untuk dilaksanakan untuk mengembalikan keyakinan kepada proses pilihan raya. Namun demikian, harus diingat penggunaan dakwat kekal semata-mata tidak mencukupi untuk memastikan pilihan raya yang bersih, adil dan telus. Senarai daftar pengundi mestilah diberi tumpuan dan dibersihkan. Apatah lagi dengan adanya pendedahan baru-baru ini tentang wujudnya 42,051 nama pemilih diragui yang mahu dipamerkan oleh SPR untuk tujuan pengesahan oleh pemilih atau waris.



Pengundian Awal



Berhubung pengundian awal, MAFREL berpendapat pendekatan ini baik untuk dilaksanakan dengan memastikan proses pengundian yang sama melibatkan pemantauan oleh agen pengundi dan agen pengira undi diwujudkan di pusat-pusat pengundian awal. Malah kehadiran badan pemerhati atau pemantau terhadap proses ini boleh memastikan proses berjalan dengan baik, apatah lagi jumlah pemilih awal agak besar iaitu seramai 200,000 orang seperti yang disahkan oleh Pengerusi SPR. Namun demikian, MAFREL tidak merasakan ada keperluan untuk pasangan anggota polis, tentera atau pasukan gerakan am untuk turut melaksanakan pengundian awal. Mereka seharusnya melalui proses pengundian yang biasa.







Tempoh bantahan



Cadangan untuk memansuhkan tempoh bantahan berhubung kelayakan seseorang calon yang bertanding pada hari penamaan calon adalah satu cadangan yang teknikal. Apakah sebab perkara ini dicadangkan? Adakah ia menyumbang kepada pilihan raya yang bebas, adil dan telus atau hanya untuk mempercepatkan proses penamaan?



Ada beberapa perkara yang perlu diberi perhatian tentang cadangan ini. Pertama, hak untuk membuat bantahan terhadap calon merupakan hak kepada pengundi bagi sesebuah kawasan pilihan raya. Dengan pemansuhan tempoh bantahan ini bermakna hak pengundi telah dinafikan. Tempoh masa yang lebih munasabah sepatutnya diperuntukkan untuk memastikan calon yang layak bertanding dan mungkin terpilih untuk penggal selama 5 tahun.



Kedua, urusan bantahan terhadap pencalonan ini terkandung dalam Perkara 16 (2)(b) dan Perkara 17, Akta Pilihan Raya 1958 yang mana perubahan peraturan terhadapnya perlu diluluskan di dalam Dewan Rakyat. Apakah pihak SPR telah mengkaji aspek ini dan boleh melaksanakannya tanpa kelulusan Parlimen?



Oleh itu, MAFREL berpendapat cadangan ini tidak perlu dilaksanakan. Sebaliknya, cadangan yang lebih tepat untuk dilaksanakan ialah dengan menambah tempoh masa penamaan calon daripada satu jam sekarang kepada satu minggu untuk proses penamaan yang lebih tenang dan semakan yang lebih teliti terhadap calon.



MAFREL memantau PRU ke-13



Di kesempatan ini, MAFREL ingin mengumumkan kesediaan dan persiapannya untuk melaksanakan pemerhatian terhadap PRU ke-13 selari dengan peranannya dalam bekerjasama menyumbang supaya pilihan raya negara menjadi salah satu proses demokrasi yang bebas, adil, telus dan mencerminkan kehendak mandat pilihan rakyat.



MAFREL menggagaskan pilihan raya yang berwibawa, aman, bebas dan adil. Ia berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip hak asasi dan demokrasi sebagaimana termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, perjanjian dan protokol antarabangsa. MAFREL telah terlibat  dalam pemerhatian PRU ke-12, Pilihan raya Negeri Sarawak dan semua pilihan raya kecil dan oleh itu memiliki pengalaman yang luas.



Sehubungan itu, MAFREL ingin mengajak rakyat Malaysia bersama-sama dengan usaha MAFREL dengan menawarkan diri menjadi sukarelawan. Pendaftaran boleh dibuat melalui facebook MAFREL atau kepada Setiausaha MAFREL, Sdr Arphan Ahmad, 012-2731016.



Sekian, terima kasih.



Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh

Pengerusi



Untuk maklumat lanjut, boleh hubungi:

Pengerusi: Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh – 013-3682067

Timbalan Pengerusi : Kolonel (B) Shaharudin Othman – 019 2344 366

Setiausaha : Arphan Ahmad – 012 273 1016

Indelible ink just first step to clean elections, says MAFREL

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/print/malaysia/indelible-ink-just-first-step-to-clean-elections-says-mafrel/

Malaysia

Indelible ink just first step to clean elections, says MAFREL

Dec 22, 2011
 
 
The use of indelible ink will be introduced in the next general election. — Reuters pic
 
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL) today welcomed the use indelible ink in the upcoming general election, but said it was not enough to ensure the polling process would be above board.
“The use of indelible ink alone is not enough to ensure the election is clean, fair and transparent. More time and focus should be given to cleaning up the electoral roll,” Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, chairman of the election watchdog, told reporters today at a press conference here.
“What more with the display of 42,051 doubtful names (provided) by the Election Commission (EC) for verification by voter or kin,” he added.
Additionally, Syed Ibrahim said the newly-introduced advance voting process should undergo a stress test to ensure any weaknesses can be determined and fixed before implemented during the general election.
The EC previously announced it will be replacing the controversial postal ballots with an advance voting system.
“In addition, partners of police, army and defence personnel should not have to perform advance voting. They should instead undergo the normal voting process,” he said.
“This is because they are not the ones on duty and serving in designated camps. They can go to polling centres like other normal citizens,” he added.
Syed Ibrahim also said the announcement by the EC on the elimination of the candidate objection period was a step in the wrong direction.
He said the commission should instead extend the objection period to one week for greater scrutiny of candidates by the voters.
Mafrel urged the EC to consider its suggestions in the push for clean and fair elections.
“If the election process is widely perceived as not credible, then the government formed after the election is also not credible,” Mafrel technical advisor Hasnah Hashim said.
Those interested in volunteering for Mafrel can join their Facebook page or contact Mafrel secretary Sdr Arphan Ahmad at 012-2731016.
==================================================

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mafrel-Selangor/313423388673842

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mafrel/272242692815334

http://mafrelfacebooks.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Cekap Election Observers (CEO)


CEO Training III
Date: 12 Nov, 2011.
Training by MAFREL.
Venue: Charis Christian Centre
Time: 2pm-5pm.
Address: 62, Jln Siput Akek, Taman Billion, Cheras

Monday, October 31, 2011

Mesyuarat Penubuhan MAFREL Selangor

31 November 2011 - Satu mesyuarat telah diadakan untuk menubuhkan MAFREL Selangor.

Friday, April 1, 2011

EC says no to Mafrel to observe Sarawak polls

Bernama) - KUCHING: The Election Commission (EC) has decided not to give accreditation to Mafrel (Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections) to be an independent observer in the Sarawak state election, polling of which is on April 16.

EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said this was because Mafrel had failed to fully comply to EC's requirements.

"Among them is for Mafrel and its affiliates to be non-partisan in their work," he said in a statement.

He said it was EC's aim to work together with independent election observers which had credibility, integrity and able to control the affiliates.

Kamaruddin said the EC made the decision at a special meeting on Thursday after studying in detail Mafrel's application to be an independent observer of the Sarawak election.

Mafrel was set up in Oct 2003 to monitor elections in the country. - Bernama

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/39284-ec-says-no-to-mafrel-to-observe-sarawak-polls

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

EC: No phantom voters on electoral roll

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

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

MAFREL ON TWITTER

http://twitter.com/#!/mymafrel

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

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

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.