MAFREL (640757-M)
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections
Suite 2-2-40, 2nd. Floor,
Wisma Rampai, Rampai Town Centre
Jalan 34/26
53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-4149 4248 , Fax: +603 4142 2997
PRESS STATEMENT 5TH APRIL 2009
MAFREL NOT ALLOWED TO ESCORT BALLOT BOX TOGETHER WITH SPR OFFICIALS FROM POLLING CENTRE TO COUNTING CENTRE
We have writen letter of protest to the Returning Officer N29 Batang Ai and SPR director and seeking permission to follow the ballot box from the polling centre to the counting centre but was told by the returning officer for Batang Ai, Mr. Nelson Mujah that we have to seek permission from SPR headquaters in Putrajaya. When ask about any contesting party, will be escorting the ballot box together with official, he said no, only SPR officials will be doing the transporting of the ballot box. Mafrel and political parties agents can only follow separately with their own transportations.
When asked for the reasons why SPR choose to shift the ballot boxes from voting stations for them to be counted at the ‘dewan pengiraan’ (counting centre) and when did they change this policy of not counting the votes at the polling station, as is done in the rest of the country. According to the Retaining Officer, he said,” This has been done in the past elections where the ballot boxes are transferred to the counting centre in Lubok Antu. Mafrel observers are also denied to witness the important counting process.
According to Mafrel Batang Ai Coordinator Peter John Jaban :As an independent observer, we have to ensure this election is conducted in a fair and transparent manner because our report will be submitted to, among others, the international monitoring body. How then do we monitor the election if we are not allowed to accompany the ballot box while it’s being transferred and also not given any access to the counting centre?
MAFREL is registered with the SPR as independent observers of the Batang Ai By-election. One of our tasks is to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. We have observed from the SPR guidelines that 14 polling centers will have their ballot boxes shifted to the Sports Centre in Lubok Antu. If neutral independent bodies like MAFREL are not allowed to escort the ballot box to the counting centre and given access to monitor the counting, then who else besides SPR officials, can be there to ensure the integrity of the ballots handling operations?
Mafrel objection to SPR, the counting should be done first at the polling station itself where the votes are being cast before being transferred to the `dewan pengiraan undi’(counting centre). In any case the small number of ballots in those areas where ballots are currently being transferred away for counting –some about 100, means that voting could have finished by mid day, and the on site counting could not take much time that it could delay the announcement of the overall results.
We have received complaints in the past about switching of ballot boxes. To avoid such allegations in future, we strongly recommend that the SPR institute measures that will ensure the security of the ballot boxes to the satisfaction of all the parties contesting in this by-election. The simplest thing to do is to conduct the counting at the polling station and we strongly recommend that SPR do adopt this policy.
`I don’t find any reason why MAFREL as an independent observer are denied to monitor the counting process.’ Said Peter John Jaban.
Mafrel’s recommendations
In view of the serious security concern of the ballot boses Mafrel therefore recommend that
1. It is the normal practice that ballot boxes are opened in the polling centre and the ballots counted there. We are very concerned that the SPR is deviating from standard good practice and wish to enquire why this is done. We strongly recommend that the SPR revert to the usual practice of counting ballots in the polling centre.
2. If the SPR for whatever reasons insist on transporting the ballot boxes to the Sports Centre in Lubok Antu, then we wish to know what safeguard the SPR is offering to ensure the security of the ballot boxes. For a start, we will expect that the SPR allow space for MAFREL and the agents of both BN and PKR to accompany the boxes during the transporting process.
Peter ak Jaban
MAFREL Chief Coordinator N29 Batang Ai.
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MAFREL is a non-partisan election observation and monitoring organization formed in 2003. Since its inception, MAFREL has conducted electoral rolls verification programmes to research on the issues of phantom voters and authenticity of the electoral rolls in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. MAFREL has also extensive experience in election observation and since December 2005, has conducted extensive election observations in the Pengkalan Pasir, Kelantan by-election (December 2005), the 9th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Elections (2006), the N.6 Batu Talam by-election (2007), the N.8 Macap by-election (2007), the N.11 Ijok by-election (2007). In March 2008 MAFREL received official accreditation from Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia (SPR) to observe the 12th General Election. Its latest involvements were the Parliamentary by-elections in Permatang Pauh, Penang and Kuala Terengganu. MAFREL has also participated in international election observation missions in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Thailand.
For more information about Mafrel, please contact
MAFREL Secretariat:Tel: +603 4149 4248 Fax: +603 4142 2997
Contact persons: Col (B) Shahrudin Othman (019 23443660) or Arphan Ahmad (012 273 1016)
I am going to cheat for the benefit of BN and I am not ashamed to let you know. That is what the returning officer was implying.
With such blatant disregard for proper control against rigging and the total,lack of transparency, the SPR is open to be sued in the court of law.
This is a grand start to ONE MALAYSIA ala Najib Razak.
Why? The answer is very simple……in fact, glaringly simple!
If independent observers like yourselves were allowed to be actually present at all stages especially during the transportation stage or the counting stage, how would it be possible for them to win the by-election?
It would become impossible for them to switch the ballot papers in order for them to maintain power. The reason for not updating the electoral roll is also another tool for them to ensure dominance. Dead voters can’t tell tales and would never object to the authorities using their names to cast votes on their behalf – that’s why, the more dead voters on the electoral list, the better….for the ruling party.
That is why!
thanks, your article is very informative.
Dear Batang Ai voters When SPR director Mr. Nelson Mujah and his co workers do suspicious thing please sue them in court. One thing must be bear in mind that Sarawak BN always trip the power during vote couting. Please ensure to install CCTV at at loaction in the Dewan where they count the vote.
I am ashamed to be a malaysian. The most undemocratic and untransparent country in South East Asia-similiar to Myammar.
The returning officer is the brother of Datuk Douglas Uggah, the Minister of Science and Technology.
Guess who he got the orders to cheat from?
well…you know the result already….
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