GE15: EC needs to improve, prevent vote-buying incidents

ALOR SETAR - The Election Commission (EC) has been asked to make improvements ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15) that is labelled as the “mother of all elections” including strict monitoring during the voting process.

This, Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said was to avoid vote-buying incidents which were constantly brought up in the previous general and state elections from repeating.

The situation was described as critical and should be contained earlier by setting stricter standard operating procedures (SOP) or new rules.

"I hope the EC will have a stricter SOP in place and among them should be how will the arrangement be during the election in the event of heavy rains or floods.

“We know there have been many reports of vote-buying which Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and I had previously brought up," he said on Monday.

Mukhriz said among the suggestions included prohibiting voters to bring their smartphones into the polling centres.

"It is not difficult to implement, the EC could prepare a box that would be monitored by the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (Rela) for voters to place their devices before entering the polling station.

"After the voting papers are inserted into the ballot box, only then voters are allowed to take their smartphones.

"Previously there were claims that voters would receive RM200 after arriving at the polling station and if they show proof that they voted for a certain party, they would then get another RM100,” he said.

He said because of the small “bait”, the people would end up suffering for five years before the election would be held again.

"That's enough, the EC needs to be firm to overcome this issue.

"Other problems such as the EC chairman’s appointment by the Prime Minister under the Prime Minister's Department should be placed under the Parliament," he said.

The Pejuang president said the movement to combat corruption in GE15 should be given attention to.

"It is important for us to raise awareness of the importance of GE15 which is said to be the mother of all elections which means that we no longer imagine still being shackled by the kleptocracy issue.

"The people must understand the importance of voting, the weather situation could not be confirmed, however, if it rains or there is flood, the voter turnout percentage is surely going to be lower and it gives more advantage to Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.

Therefore, Mukhriz said he hoped that with the GE15 decision, there will be e stable government and the country will be administered by a government that has been given a comfortable mandate.

"The government that won GE14 only had the stability for 22 months and after March 2020 until today, the country is not stable.

"The government can't perform its duties. It was unable to make full use of the mandate given to them by the people for good. The one term was a waste of time and parties were fighting against each other until a state of emergency was declared,” he said.

The incumbent Jerlun MP hoped that the Anti-Party Hopping Bill that was passed will help stabilise the government and prevent the people’s representatives from jumping parties.

Mukhriz said GE15 is the last chance for the people to make the situation in the country right.

"I hope the people realise this and will not take the election process lightly. Choose the best candidate to defend the people who are facing various problems.

"We want a government that will truly overcome the issue, not create other issues for the people," he said.