Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs

Independent poll observers free to monitor

Jan 17th, 2013
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Independent poll observers free to monitor

KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission today guaranteed that there will no restrictions on non-governmental organisations appointed to be independent observers during the upcoming 13th general election.
Its deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the observers were appointed to determine that the election was fair and transparent.
"This is providing space for Malaysians to monitor the election to the satisfaction of all parties. The move (to appoint NGOs as independent observers) is a landmark transformation in the country.
"Never before in Malaysia have NGOs been given the chance to act as observers and report freely on the conduct of elections to the EC," he said when appearing as a panellist on TV3's "Soal Jawab" talk show Wednesday night.
Wan Ahmad said the process of appointing four shorlisted NGOs as independent observers, namely the Merdeka Centre, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Centre for Public Policy Studies and the Malaysian Youth Council would be effected this month.
Also on the panel which was moderated by Media Prima executive director (News and Editorial Operations) Datuk Ahmad Talib was political analyst Dr Chandra Muzaffar. -- Bernama

Source: MOLE

Six NGOs appointed as election observers

Oct 21st, 2012
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Six NGOs appointed as election observers

PETALING JAYA: Six non-governmental organisations (NGOs)have been appointed by the Election Commission (EC) as observers for 13th general election in Peninsular Malaysia.

The NGOs are Merdeka Centre, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Association for Human Rights (Proham), Transparency International, Centre for Public Policy (CPP) and Malaysian Youth Council (MYC).

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the initiative, the first introduced by EC, is to give NGOs the opportunity to evaluate the transparency and regulations.

He said that EC is also in talks with several NGOs to be appointed as election observers in Sabah and Sarawak.

“We have discussed three times with the NGOs on the conditions of appointment and terms of reference,” he told reporters after a forum on free and fair elections organised by the National Institute for Electoral Integrity.
 

The selection of NGOs was made after EC was sure they are committed to fighting for democracy and are neutral, without favouring any political party.
 

Every NGO can only place three members in each parliamentary constituency as observers and asked to compile reports throughout the course of the election.

“Via the report, we will know what our weaknesses are and what need to be improved.”
 

EC will mobilise 230,000 staff during election and plans to amend the Election Regulations (Registration of Voters) 2002 after election.
 

Wan Ahmad said it is time for EC to re-examine the regulations to improve the registration of voters.

Meanwhile, Malaysians abroad can download form 1A on the EC website to apply for is postal voting next month.
 

“They are only applicable to Malaysians already registered as voters,” he added. –BERNAMA

Source: MOLE

Bersih: EC’s appointed observers mere PR exercise

Jul 2nd, 2012
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Electoral reform group Bersih has slammed the Election Commission’s move to unilaterally appoint five NGOs as observers for the 13th general election as a public relations exercise.

“EC’s recent announcement on the selection of five NGOs as observers for the GE13 may be dismissed by the public as a public relations exercise due to flaws on both the selection criteria and the restrictions in observation.

azlan“Bersih calls for electoral observation to be made a legal right open to all so that all interested groups can apply to be accredited based on objective criteria. Election observers must also enjoy substantial freedom to carry out their task,” it said in a statement yesterday.

It noted that even election watchdog Malaysian Election Observers’ Network (MEO-Net) which exposed vote buying in the Sarawak state election, had been excluded as an observer.

Furthermore, Bersih adds that the five appointed observers were also constrained by “ridiculous prohibitions, among them they were:

a) Prohibited from observing ballot counting process

b) Prohibited from taking photographs of fraud without presiding officer’s approval

c) Prohibited from speaking to party agents and polling staff

d) Prohibited from speaking to media

e) Observers must stay at the same polling station throughout the day

f) Prohibited from releasing information to third party before reporting to EC

“With these ridiculous and unjustified restrictions, as well as the EC’s failure to hold open public consultations on its policy on election observation, the sincerity of the EC in allowing independent election observing is called into question,” it said.

The EC has named five NGOs to be accredited as official election observers for the next general election – think-tanks Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) and Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli); graft watchdog Transparency International-Malaysia, human rights body Association for Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) and independent pollster Merdeka Centre.

Describing the move as the “exact opposite” of good criteria that an election observation should have, namely to be inclusive, transparent and free, Bersih called for a relook into the appointments.

“The policy must include objective accreditation criteria for both international and national observers to apply,” it said.

It also reiterated its call for the government to invite international observers for the next election.

“Election observations need not be feared if there are no fraud and irregularities to hide.”

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Mafrel: EC using NGOs to fake transparency

Jun 27th, 2012
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Veteran polls watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has accused the Election Commission (EC) of selecting untested NGOs as election observers as a means of creating an illusion of transparency.

NONEMafrel chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (left) pointed out that of the five NGOs chosen by the EC to observe the 13th general election, none have expertise or experience in observing elections.

“Some of the NGOs, like Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) or Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) focus more on the theoretical aspect of elections than work on the ground.

“Maybe that is why the EC nominated them and not us,” said Syed Ibrahim, whose group was once accredited by the EC to observe several by-elections and have participated in numerous international election observation missions.

The three other NGOs that will be accredited are independent pollsters Merdeka Centre, think-tank Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (Asli) and human rights watchdog Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham).

Syed Ibrahim also warned the selected NGOs to be wary of the motive and agenda behind the EC’s invitation, saying that the EC only wants to create an illusion of transparency to counter claims made by election reform pressure group Bersih 2.0.

According to the New Straits Times, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had claimed that Mafrel was excluded on the grounds that they are biased and pro-opposition.

“Everyone may have their own political inclinations, but that doesn’t mean we don’t conduct ethical monitoring in line with international standards,” said Syed Ibrahim, when told of Abdul Aziz’s remarks.

Against international norms

Syed Ibrahim added that if the EC was sincere about having election observers, they would not have put restrictions on the NGOs and should have allocated a budget for the monitoring efforts.

“The conditions set are definitely not in line with international norms, where the basic principle is for the bodies to be independent and able to publish their own reports, not gagged throughout the election campaign,” he pointed out.

Abdul Aziz had said that the accredited observers will not be allowed to speak to the media throughout the election campaign.

It is also understood that the reports by the NGOs will be vetted by the EC before they are made public.

One group with the expertise and experience in international election observation missions – the National Institute for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (NIEI) – has declined EC’s invitation to be accredited as an official election observer.

The group said that it did so because it opposes the conditions the EC has imposed on poll monitors.

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Engineers say Computing Bill is ‘counter-productive’

Dec 14th, 2011
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The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) is opposed to the idea of regulating IT professionals as mooted in the proposed Computing Professionals Bill.

IEM labelled the Bill as a “counter-productive” move that would stifle the creativity and innovation that are inherent to the information technology (IT) industry.

“If such a regulation is put in place in the early development of the industry, there most certainly will not be the proliferation of innovative solutions to make the industry what it is today,” says the statement issued by the professional body today.

IEM noted that the talent pool in the IT industry came from very diverse backgrounds, experience and qualifications, with some of them even without formal qualifications.

“Regulating IT professionals can lead to a reduction in competitiveness, which will be detrimental to the achievement of developed country status as envisaged in the National Key Result Areas.”

“It (the Bill) is a protectionist scheme that adds unnecessary hindrance and costs, such as staff to man the proposed Board of Computing Professionals, to set and conduct exams, training courses, fees, paperwork and the like, which will also increase bureaucracy.”

IEM stressed that the regulation of professions should only be done in industries where public safety and interests were at stake.

While acknowledging that individual organisations should have the flexibility to set up their own registers of eligible IT professionals for their specific needs, IEM believes that the “one-size-fits-all” solution as proposed in the Bill will not solve the current industry concerns.

‘Government not competent’

Meanwhile, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) questioned the government’s competency to regulate and accredit the IT industry.

“The government really does not have the competency to accredit IT practitioners because the industry evolves continuously through innovation,” Ideas senior executive Medecci Lineil said in a statement.

“I firmly believe that this law is not needed because it denies the efficiency of the market and it should therefore be withdrawn.”

Concurring with IEM, Lineil said the government’s attempt to interfere in the supervision of the IT industry was a pedantic “step backwards” and understandably, dynamic technopreneurs and others in the industry opposed the Bill.

Instead, Ideas proposed consumer satisfaction as the ultimate “supervisor”or regulator for the IT industry, and for self-regulation through a code of ethics promulgated by the industry itself, without government interference.

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