14th General Election: The Voters And The Election Commission

Malaysia’s next general election must be held on or before June 24th, 2018. However, the Prime Minister can ask His Majesty the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament at any time before this five-year period expires. 

A general election should be held no later than 60 days in West Malaysia and 90 days for East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) after the dissolution of the Parliament. Political observers and pundits are fast speculating, the embattled Prime Minister Mohd Najib Razak might call for a snap poll. 

Based on the Article 113 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution, it is responsible to the Election Commission (SPR) in the way of managing and administrating such as:
1. The electoral constitution is by draw up the border
2. Voter’s list is prepared and check for election
3. Parliamentary and State Legislative Assembly constitution is well manage in the election process

The Constitution per Article 119 (1) denotes the qualifications of a registered voter:
1. When the voter reaches the age of 21 years old on the qualifying date
2. To reside in the election of the qualifying date or as absentee voter
3. For the electoral list, it is listed in the document by voter’s names in the electoral constituency.

Based on the Election Rules 14 and 15 in 1959, the name which is not listed is not allowed to vote. This checking and validation can be done at the city/village level, such as village head complexes, town halls, official government building or at places that can be accessed by the local community. 

There are three types of absentees excused in the election process:-
1. Malaysian citizen who works in the Federal Armed Forces or Commonwealth countries, or the wife is staying in the place where provided by the Armed Forces authority from the date of application and register as voter in electoral district
2. Malaysian citizen that is living oversea with his wife and working with the State and Federal, Government or local ,semi-government and has registered himself as voter in the electoral constituency
3. Malaysian citizen and his wife studying abroad, who has register himself as voter in the electoral constituency

A registered voter is not allowed to vote for the State Legislative Council or House of Representative such as:-
1. The person is unsound minded or serving a jail sentence on the qualifying date
2. Jailed for more than 12 months on the qualifying date in any of the Commonwealth countries

In an earlier statistical report by SPR until December 31st, 2015 some 17, 658,700 Malaysian citizens whom reached the age of 21 years qualified to register as voters. From the figure disclosed, some 13,468,946 has registered while 4,189,754 failed to do so.

However, in a twist of event, the recently released third quarter 2016 electoral roll update by SPR, showed an astounding figure of 501,799 newly registered voters were added to the electoral roll. This astronomical rise could be influenced by rumour of voting deadline viral over the social media on the coming 14th General Election.

On the flip side, some political figures are doubtful and began questioning the legitimacy of the increase reported. They seemed not happy if someone does a good job? They never will…

Why DAP Is Against Delineation?

The matter on constituency or parliamentary delineations is such a hard word to swallow, especially when seats won over time, is under scrutiny and to a re-delineation exercise by the Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR). 

The voting patterns over the past general elections and ramifications of the 2002 re-delineation exercise are marked by ethnocentric of the electoral logic that overall imbalance the constituency size. The Malay rural dominated constituencies tends to vote strongly for the Barisan Nasional led government (BN) spearheaded by United Malays Nation Organization (UMNO) while the large Chinese dominated urban voted more for the Opposition (PR) majority led by the Democratic Action Party (DAP). 

One needs to comprehend what is ‘delineation’ and the authority impart by the Federal Constitution (FC) 1963. 

What is Constituency delineation/delimitation? It is the drawing of boundaries in the context of elections in order to prevent imbalance of voting population across polling districts. Who is responsible for constituency re-delineation in Malaysia? The EC is responsible as provided for in Article 113, Section 2(i) of the Federal Constitution (FC). How often must re-delineation carried out? From the last re-delineation, it should be carried out no less than 8 years after the last exercise as per the FC/Article 113/2(ii). 

When was the last re-delineation exercise? For Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah, it was carried out in 2003 and in Sarawak in the year 2005. How do we know when the re-delineation exercise will start? It will start when the EC publishes in the Gazette and newspaper(s) where their proposed boundaries may be viewed in each of the affected constituencies. Before that the EC will inform the Prime Minister and Speaker of Dewan Rakyat of their intention to start the process; FC/13th Schedule/Part 2/ 4(a). 

While all efforts by the EC assisted by the Department of Survey and Mapping and the Attorney General’s office in the re-delineation exercise, DAP state assemblymen from Sarawak and Sabah are adamant and insisted, the entire re-delineation exercise is a 'robbery' by Barisan Nasional to avoid defeat in the coming 14th General Election (GE). 

In view of the window closing in for a delineation, the Penang and Selangor state government had intended to carry out a snap election which will usurp the exercise or somewhat will affect the EC exercise in both states. Why such arm twisting acts? 

The reason is purely simple and obvious. The constituencies in both states; majority of the seats contested in the previous two GE are won by DAP, thus they hold the ‘Ace’ in the states’ administration. The urban constituencies dominated by the Chinese are thick with ‘pride’ and ‘arrogance’ underneath their insecurities in the diverse ethnicity. 

A classic example, the Selangor Menteri Besar; Azmin Ali (Parti Keadilan Rakyat; PKR) did not heed Lim Kit Siang’s (DAP Senior Advisor) proposal for the state assembly to dissolve. Tony Pua (Selangor MP, DAP) came with ‘loaded guns’ bearing on Azmin for his refusal and labelled as ‘STUPID’. 

DAP’s intentions are clear. Should a snap election materialise, the present constituency may and will grow in numbers, thus handing them more controlling powers. Power brings authority to determine the delineation process through dispute-and-receive without interference from any party; especially from UMNO and Partai Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). 

An ‘Aye’ or a “Nay” for re-delineation requires a two third (2/3) majority in the legislative house. There are 56 state assembly seats in Selangor; DAP leads with 14 seats followed by PKR at 13 seats. When PAS has a fall out with PR, their two seats were ‘coerced’ to join Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) to maintain the newly formed coalition of DAP, PKR and PAN named Pakatan Harapan (PH) stronghold in Selangor. UMNO/BN meanwhile retains 12 state assembly seats. 

Similarly in Penang, where 40 state assembly seats comprised of DAP heads the number at 19, followed by PKR at 10, PAS with 1 seat and finally UMNO/BN with 10 seats. DAP has envisioned to be the supremo party in the coalition, should the snap election is in their favour, despite being heckled with unresolved local issues. 

DAP is overly concerned particularly downplaying their hypocrisy of the Malays. Such exercise by the EC is deemed ‘unwarranted’ by the party as it present a threat to their political struggle and power. Hence, the re-delineation is observed to shrink their foothold and disengaged from the momentum to widen their authority in the country. 

Once, the biometrics facilities and capabilities proposed by the EC to clamp down any possibilities and existence of imposter, posing as registered voter in a constituent in the General election. The exercise of the biometrics during an election would weed out ‘impersonator/s’, simultaneously, through direct access to the National Registration Department database, the Department of Immigration could apprehend and prove existence of forged identity card holders enjoying the facilities as Malaysians. 

However, too much dismay DAP fired salvo in organizing mass protests throughout the nation against such exercise that would unveil their true intentions. As a ‘solution’ away from their hidden agenda, PR prompted the use of indelible ink, much to their favour to keep harping on the legitimacy of voters in probable losing constituencies. 

The same can be expected of DAP leading the PR coalition to hamper the delineation exercise and rock ‘democracy’ to their advantage in false pretenses…?

#PRKP044 #Vote4AbgMie Siapa Yang Bertanding Di Negara Mana?

Benarkah ini seperti terbentang di PilihanRaya Kecil Permatang Pauh; PRK P044?

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1. Pastinya ini antara usaha PKR memesong pandangan pengundi akan nasib yang Anwar Ibrahim yang menongkah arus badai untuk menagih simpati, sedangkan beliau sudah hilang kelayakan berdasarkan Perkara 119, Kelayakan Pemilih dalam Fasal 3 yang menyatakan:

"Seseorang hilang kelayakan untuk menjadi pemilih dalam mana-mana PilihanRaya ke Dewan Rakayat atau Dewan Undangan jika :- 

(a) pada tarikh kelayakan di ditahan sebagai orang yang tidak sempurna akal atau sedang menjalani hukuman pemenjaraan atau...."

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"(1) Bahasa Kebangsaan ialah Bahasa Melayu dan hendaklah dalam tulisan yang diperuntukkan melalui undang-undang oleh Parlimen: 

Dengan syarat bahawa:-

(a) tiada seorangpun boleh dilarang atau dihalang daripada menggunakan (selain bagi maksud rasmi) atau daripada mengajarkan atau belajar apa-apa bahasa lain; dan ..."

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SPR juga harus bertindak menurunkan billboard yang memeriahkan bahasa selain Bahasa Kebangsaan serta hanya potret calon yang bertanding dibenarkan.

Di dalam senario yang sama, berlaku kepincangan di dalam penyalahgunaan kuasa oleh Kerajaan Negeri "membenarkan aset dan kakitangannya" mengambil bahagian di dalam kempen pilihanraya yang sedang berlangsung dengan pandangan sebelah mata; paraphernalia parti lawan diturunkan sedangkan yang ditandingi dibiarkan...

Kerajaan Negeri juga tanpa segan silu menganjur gerakan mengasak Kerajaan Pusat dengan Kempen GST. Inilah satu kebiadaban yang tidak terhingga didalangi Cauvinis DAP!

Inikah keadilan yang diwar-warkan oleh pihak yang angkuh dengan "Giants" di dalam undang-undang sedang Rukun Negara yang diraikan sejak tahun 1969 hanya sekadar bahan untuk diperlekehkan di samping Perlembagaan Negara yang berDAULAT!!!

Selama MCA menjadi parti komponen kepada asalnya Perikatan dan kemudiannya Barisan Nasional, belum pernah mereka bertindak membelakangi Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Inikan pula berbeza dengan Pembangkang. Hingga semuanya hanya omongan buat mereka.

Renung-renungkanlah, wahai pengundi Permatang Pauh khususnya Malaysia amnya. Nak berdemo, akurlah pada pihak berwajib dengan syarat dan terma bagi menjamin kedamaian ramai. Bukan dengan terikut-ikut budaya berontak Che Guevara yang diadaptasikan dengan dakwaan melulu dan penuh nesta oleh Pembangkang.