PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional tops the list of most election offences in the Cameron Highland by-election, with Pakatan Harapan following right behind.
Electoral watchdog Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) said it documented 23 cases of election offences throughout the period from nomination day on Jan 12 January until polling day on Jan 26.
“These election offences were committed by both main political coalitions, with Barisan involved in 14 cases, Pakatan in five cases and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) in second cases.
None were recorded for the two independent candidates.
“The election offences committed were for treating (four cases), abuse of state resources (three cases), bribery and undue influence (two cases), the incitement of ill feeling on race and religion in campaigning (four cases), campaigning on polling day (nine cases) and others (one case),” said the Bersih 2.0 steering commitee in a statement.
It said offences were likely not due to increased disregard of election law, but observers were more aware of the election offences.
“The incitement of ill-feeling on race and religion, or identity politics, to campaign for votes as the most worrying kind of offences,” said Bersih 2.0.
It cited such incidents include Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and the linking of Pakatan candidate M. Manogaran to the death of fireman Mohamad Adib during the Seafield temple scuffle.
“Asyraf was reported to have said that if the DAP candidate won, it would be harmful to Malay and Islam. PAS Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi alleged that DAP will remove Islam as the official religion while PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang said in a video that 'If non-Muslims want to be safe, do not vote for DAP… Vote for the Muslim candidate, all will be safe… Muslims will be safe, non-Muslims will be safe',” said Bersih 2.0.
In the same statement, Bersih 2.0 also called on the Election Commission to come out with clearer guidelines on using of state resources for campaigning.
There were also numerous “ministerial working visits” two weeks before the official campaign period started on nomination day.
Bersih 2.0 propose that such “working visits” by ministers, who are also senior party leaders, should cease the moment Parliament is dissolved or when a seat is declared vacant to ensure that there is a level playing field for the election.
“The EC should also be given more power to enforce election law, including the power to fine candidates or any violators of election law for minor offences, such as giving away free ice-cream at Pos Terisu, free food in Kampung Belau by the BN, and the wearing of party logos in polling stations,” said Bersih 2.0.
Pakatan candidate Manogaran made headlines when he was asked to leave a polling centre on election day for wearing a DAP shirt.
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