Aliran Media Statement

Waiting for the Election Commission to blow the whistle

We are amazed at the number of Ministers, deputy Ministers and various government functionaries who have landed in Sabah to campaign for the out-going Barisan state government. We understand that more than 100 officials from the Ministry of Information are in Sabah and they were sent there before the assembly was dissolved.

While conceding that politicians have every right to be in Sabah and actively campaign for the Barisan state government to be returned once again, the question begging for an answer is: On whose expense are they doing this? Who is footing their bill? Are their expenditures - transport, meals and accommodation - met by the taxpayers? Do they also draw an allowance while in Sabah busily campaigning on government time?

The election is a contest among contending parties and has nothing to do with the functions of the government of the day. As such, it is wrong and immoral to use government facilities and public money to campaign for party interests.

It is equally wrong to announce allocations for development or promise new projects during and preceding campaign period. Under the circumstance, the election can never be fair. It gives undue advantage to the ruling party. It is also tantamount to seducing the voters with goodies; it is nothing but inducement to "buy" votes. Doesn't this amount to bribing the voters?

The Election Commission's responsibility is not only to conduct the elections but to ensure that it is held fairly.

The Election Commission is a referee in this contest. It's the referee's responsibility to ensure that the contest is fair and clean. It's the referee's duty to enforce rules that do not confer unfair advantage to any one side. It's the referee's obligation to lay down the ground rules so that it is not a lopsided contest.

Aliran would like to raise the following salient points with the Election Commission. Concerned Malaysians look forward to a public response from the Election Commission:

• Is it morally right for the ruling party to approve and allocate on-the-spot grants for development during the period of election campaign? Isn't this tantamount to bribing the voters?
  
  
• Is it ethical for leaders of the ruling party to use government facilities - machinery, personnel and vehicles - for party purposes? Doesn't this constitute an abuse?
  
  
• Is it proper for Barisan leaders to be given unlimited time and opportunity to campaign over TV, displaying their party symbols prominently, without extending a similar privilege to the opposition? It should be borne in mind that the moment a minister appears on TV and attacks an opposition party during the election period, he ceases to be a government official and assumes the role of a party functionary.
  
  
• Is it fair that ministers should be using planes and helicopters to move around quickly and conveniently to campaign for the Barisan without incurring any expenditure for their party?

Malaysians have witnessed too many infringements in this contest and are wondering when the whistle will be blown. They are waiting anxiously to hear the whistle. Will the Election Commission exert its constitutional authority to ensure that the contest is fair, clean and democratic.

P. Ramakrishnan
President
6 March 1999