By Arnaz M Khairul
In announcing its preliminary findings on the integrity of the electoral process and system, Bersih acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said the EC had failed to command public confidence in managing the electoral process and system.
Bersih has identified at least 10 instances of electoral fraud committed so far. Among them are:
- Gerrymandering, malapportionment, and abuse of the redelineation process;
- Failure to clean up the electoral roll and prevent phantom voters;
- Failure to register eligible voters and causing widespread disenfranchisement of voters;
- Suppressing voter turnout by deliberately setting polling day on a Wednesday;
- Setting the bare minimum campaigning period;
- Arbitrary disqualification and prevention of nominations;
- Failure to take action against over 400 election offences allegedly involving bribery, vote buying, and giving treats and gifts, among others;
- Failure to allow meaningful observation of election procedures; and,
- Irregularities in advance voting and postal voting.
Bersih urged Malaysians to ensure a big turnout on polling day as a way to overcome electoral fraud and manipulation.
“The EC has failed us and has not upheld the integrity of our elections.
“Although GE14 will not be clean, free or fair, Bersih 2.0 believes that you will play an important role in the upcoming elections. It is now up to you,” it said in appealing to the voters.
“The electoral fraud and manipulation can only be overcome if you and all Malaysians turn up to vote as we have all done in 2008 and 2013,” the Bersih statement said.
Bersih is also urging Malaysians to wear yellow or tie a yellow ribbon or paint their Facebook yellow two days before polling day as a sign of protest and solidarity.