MEDIA STATEMENT (3 July 2018): Clean up the Election Commission Before By-election in Sungai Kandis

The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) would like to express our sympathy for the families and friends of PKR’s Sungai Kandis assemblyperson Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei who had passed away yesterday.

At the same time, BERSIH 2.0 is deeply concerned with the legitimacy and integrity of the upcoming by-election in Sungai Kandis, if the current six Election Commission (EC) commissioners remain in office by that time.

We hold the six EC commissioners responsible for their complicit role in the failure to conduct a clean, free and fair 14th General Election, as proven by blatant evidence of fraud and mismanagement happened during the election. Although the then EC Chairperson Hashim Abdullah had opted for early retirement, we must not put aside the fact that the other six commissioners are equally incompetent and not qualified to conduct elections and had manipulated the 14th General Election in bad faith.

As a by-election has to be held in Sungai Kandis soon, we again call for immediate resignation of the remaining six EC commissioners. If they refuse to resign, a tribunal for their removal must be initiated in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

We would also like to reiterate that the appointment of new EC chairperson and commissioners with integrity, impartiality and independence from party politics and expertise on electoral matters must be done as soon as possible. These steps are urgent and crucial to restore public confidence before the Sungai Kandis by-election which will be held within months to come.