Bersih tired of intimidation

PETALING JAYA: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 says there needs to be an immediate change to the police’s standard operating procedures in investigating electoral offence reports.

Bersih 2.0 acting chairperson Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said he was tired of the “intimidation from the police, every time Bersih made a report on an electoral offence in a by-election”.

“We find hundreds of electoral offences committed during by-elections and every time, we are asked to go to the police station to give our statements,” Shahrul told a press conference here yesterday.

“This should stop. We don’t have the time for this unnecessary inti­midation.”

Bersih will be monitoring the ongoing campaign during the Port Dickson by-election until voting day on Oct 13.

It said that it would be requesting all the Port Dickson by-election candidates to pledge a clean and fair campaign during the by-election.

Bersih 2.0 executive director Yap Swee Seng said the present SOP used by the police also put fear into the public from reporting on electoral offences during elections.

“Investigate the one who has been reported on and not those who made the report,” said Yap.

He also said Bersih had decided to file reports with the Election Com­mission (EC), the Malaysian Com­mu­nication and Multimedia Com­mission (MCMC) and the Ma­­lay­sian Anti-Corruption Commis­sion (MACC).

“We expect these agencies to take our reports seriously and then file reports with the police, and EC should deal with the police,” said Yap.

Shahrul said that offers of freebies, especially free food, had become a norm and this should be viewed seriously as an electoral offence, as it may “induce voters”.

“Feeding party workers is all right, as long as they meet the electoral procedures of not exceeding RM200,000 throughout the campaign, but we always hear offers of kambing golek (roast lamb) and nasi kawah.

“Those from Bersih are told not to accept free food. As for the media (being fed), please use your conscience in eating free food, as it may be undue influence to supporting them in your coverage,” said Shahrul.

Bersih said concerned public could file complaints on electoral offences at aduan.pemantau.org or Whatsapp [phone].

They may also call 017-253 7917.