MAFREL BERSIH? – To monitor the Malaysian 12th General Election; EC Chairman: "I Will Resign" If Court said there is rigging in any GE or By Election

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Anyone heard of MAFREL (Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections)? Who are the sponsors bankrolling them? Have they received a grant from the Government to do this huge task? Who are the members in this so called independent body and on what basis are they selected and appointed?And they have the blessing and tacit support of EC. Is it another off spring of EC? Or is this another sponsored BN Project under the guise of an Independent Body? What support they have from the Malaysian Civil Society? Most importantly are they Bersih to accomplish their self appointed role for a “free & fair election”?.
“The Chairman of the Election Commission Tan Sri Abd Rashid Abd Rahman is saddened that people are making such claims based on suspicions without any evidence. They have portrayed the country in a bad light overseas. He said this after accepting a final report made in observations at thre by election at in Batu Talam, Machap and Ijok. By Mafrel .

He made a bold declaration that he will step down if rigging can be proved in Court. But how to If courts can be rigged what hope is there?. Further more, rigging can be proved if they allowed the ballot boxes to be opened and inspected as it is, after a very short period, the voting slips are burned to "destroy" all evidence.

ABOVE: The EC Chairman , pointing to his Panel (BELOW) on his right)
“I will resign; the Panel will also resign I think, they have to follow me. Cannot go onto the streets shouting slogans and so on. Go to the kampong after kampong “ tipu orang” Yes you cannot prove but not outside but in Court. If the Judge said: 'Oh there is rigging here and Election Commission is responsible', I will resign.

On Friday he created a stir when he declared he knew when the election will be called. But PM Abdullah said on Sunday it was he would determined when parliament would be dissolved and election called for the 12^th General Election. He added: “Look you better get ready, I think Election is coming”

= == == == = == == = = = NST account

Polls chief: I’ll quit if there is proof of vote-rigging

By Hamidah Atan (NST); 20 November, 2007

PUTRAJAYA: Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman yesterday called on political parties and other participants of the Nov 10 rally to go to court if they were unhappy with the way elections are conducted. Abdul Rashid said he was prepared to resign if they could show proof of irregularities like vote-rigging. “Don’t go to the streets, shouting slogans, enter villages, hurling all sorts of allegations. We have done well in all the general elections. “Even my foreign counterparts praised me because here we get faster results and the elections are smooth. “There is no such thing as vote rigging. I am sad they keep saying it without any proof. You are only giving a bad image of your own country. I have been through six general elections and to date, no one has ever approached me with evidence of irregularities. “I will resign, the (EC) panel will also resign, if you can provide me with the proof,” he said.

On Nov 10, a coalition of opposition parties and non-governmental organisations calling itself Bersih organised a rally of some 10,000 people, according to an official estimate, to march to Istana Negara with an election reform petition. The memorandum was submitted by Lim Kit Siang of the DAP, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to an official at the gates of Istana Negara. Abdul Rashid said the allegations against the EC were based on suspicions. “They create their own judgments and suspicions. Only the court can decide whether there are irregularities or not. If you are not happy with the way elections are conducted, take the matter to court,” he said. “This is a strong government and I am proud of the (election) system. I am not praising the government or the party in power. We have been enjoying peace and prosperity. Isn’t this because of this government? “If the judge says there is vote-rigging and the commission is responsible, we will resign but stop making allegations without any proof.”

On Bersih’s petition which, among other things, called for postal votes to be abolished, Abdul Rashid said it was a constitutional matter and the commission could not do anything about this. He said the dissatisfied parties should take this issue up with the rightful authorities. However, he said the manner in which postal voting was conducted would be improved. Previously, party agents were not allowed into military camps or police bases where the voting took place.

“I had a word with the prime minister recently and he agreed to the presence of political party agents in these camps. Although these camps were security areas, the prime minister has agreed to the proposal to get rid of people’s suspicions.”

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had also agreed to this, he said after meeting independent election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) representatives in his office. On his recent statement that he knew the date of the general election, but could not divulge details, Abdul Rashid said: “What I said to Pak Lah, I don’t have to tell you. We are responsible for the election and I want all parties to be prepared for it.” He said the government, however, had to be fair to the commission. “We cannot be caught unprepared. They (government) have to tell us to be fair to us. All political parties must be given enough notice.” Asked about his retirement which falls on Dec 31, Abdul Rashid replied, “I have served my full term and it is mandatory that I have to go. “(I) don’t know whether there will be an extension (to my service) or not. I never asked but today, I am still the chairman. I have not received any notice and I don’t care.”
= == = = =November 19, 2007 22:53 PM

Mafrel Will Monitor General Election

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- An independent body, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), will conduct overall monitoring of the coming general election to ensure good election practices. Its chairman Abdul Malek Hussin said a monitoring task force had been set up to monitor the general election in four regions -- Northern, East Coast, Central and South, and Sabah and Sarawak. "The Election Commission (EC) is supportive of our intention to monitor the next general election," he said at a joint press conference with EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman here today.

ABOVE: are these the MAFREL members sitting & meeting with the EC

He had earlier submitted the final reports to the EC on Mafrel's monitoring of three by-elections, namely in Batu Talam, Machap and Ijok. Abdul Malek said Mafrel held a dialogue with the EC today to present its views and suggestions to enhance the country's election practices through such reports. "We've got official recognition from the EC on the importance of observing and monitoring the general election in a free and non-partisan way." Abdul Malek said some of the weaknesses mentioned in the reports had already been rectified, in the process of being rectified or could be rectified. Abdul Rashid, meanwhile, said that some of Mafrel's suggestions could not be done by the EC as it was bound by law, for instance, on the electoral roll. "It cannot be changed at will even if felt suitable as it has to comply with the requirements of the Federal Constitution. It can only be amended through the legal process," he said. On Mafrel's suggestion to review the campaign period which was said to be short, Abdul Rashid said this did not require the law to be amended and the EC would look into the matter.

= == = =Watch the 1.33s Video Clip: EC: Chairman , I will Resign If....

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November 19, 2007 14:37 PM

Ramli Charged With Abuse Of Power Over Use Of Police Aircraft

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Former Sabah police commissioner Datuk Ramli Yusoff was charged in the Sessions Court here Monday with abuse of power over the use of police aircraft for his personal gain. Ramli, 55, pleaded not guilty and was released on RM10,000 bail with one surety. Judge Duncan Sikodol fixed Feb 18-22 next year for trial. Ramli who is now Commercial Crime Investigation Department director at Bukit Aman, is charged with using his public office for his pecuniary gain by ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him and two civilians -- Datuk Muhamad Yassin and Khalid Mohamad -- on an aerial surveillance of two lots in Ulu Tungku, Lahad Datu, in which Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had interest.

ABOVE & BELOW: Ramli as seen in Kota Bahru

The offence was allegedly committed at about 7.50am on June 15 and he is alleged to have interest in the company. If convicted, he faces a maximum 20 years jail and up to R10,000 fine under section 15 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act. On Nov 1, Ramli was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with failing to disclose information on two office lots in Megan Avenue in Jalan Yap kwan Seng belonging to his two sisters and the fact that he had 154,000 shares in Permaju Industries.Both offences were alleged committed at the deputy public prosecutor's office at the Anti-Corruption Agency office in Putrajaya on Sept 17. He was also charged with being a director of real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd when, as a public servant, he was not allowed to be involved in business. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of RM20,000 with one surety pending trial on Jan 15-19 next year. Meanwhile, a group of residents from Kampung Tanjung Labian in Tungku, Lahad Datu, assembled peacefully outside the High Court nearby while Ramli was being charged in the Sessions Court, to protest over the land concerned.