The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (Jag) is appalled that Suhakam’s application to monitor the 2018 general election has been denied by the Electoral Commission.
We strongly believe that this move, which obstructs an effort to ensure good governance practices, is done in bad faith and against the best interest of the election process itself.
On 26 April, Suhakam was informed by the Electoral Commission that their bid to observe the election process was rejected. This means they will not be allowed to deploy their observers in the polling stations.
No reason has been offered by the Electoral Commission as to why the application failed.
Suhakam had earlier mentioned that they would have 50 observers on the ground to monitor ‘hot’ parliamentary seats. They would be monitoring the election process for electoral misconduct, which includes inducements to vote, intimidation of voters, problems with postal votes and advance votes, the electoral roll and exploitation of racial and religious issues.
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Suhakam’s observers, made up of its commissioners, officers and volunteers, would be sent to seats in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Perlis, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak and Sabah.
Jaga echoes the view that Suhakam is indeed a vehicle of integrity and draws its strength from its legislated mandate to protect and promote human rights in Malaysia.
A clean and fair election is a fundamental constitutional right of every Malaysian and should be the priority of the Electoral Commission. Therefore, the Electoral Commission should support and facilitate all efforts to ensure that the credibility and transparency of the process is held at the highest standard possible.
The Electoral Commission had invited representatives from at least seven countries – Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan – to observe the upcoming election. We are disturbed, however, that the terms of reference for these international observers have not been made known. We also do not know the identities of these representatives, and where they will be deployed.
While we commend that the Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre (MSCS) has been invited to observe the elections, we believe that the presence of Suhakam will further strengthen the people’s trust in the electoral process.
Malaysia is entering what many consider to be a turning point in our country’s history. Now, more than ever, Malaysia has a responsibility to demonstrate to the world that it is able to maturely conduct a credible election process which celebrates fundamental human rights in a democratic way.
We strongly urge the Electoral Commission to reconsider positively Suhakam’s application to observe the upcoming elections and accord them the support they need to ensure clean and fair elections for Malaysia.
This statement is endorsed by the following members of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality:
Sisters in Islam (Sis)
Justice for Sisters
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
