MAFREL’s stick to its recommendation to Election Commission not to allow party booths/tents on polling day as it constitute campaigning, which is disallowed according to the campaigning moratorium enforced from the eve of polling day. All excuses from the Opposition are found to be unjustified eg inadequate campaigning time-all candidates are running on same rule. BN may set up the tents last minutes like in 2004? Now it is 2009-and BN is NOT running. And talk about Pakatan will be disadvantaged? Let’s see that all candidates will respect the rules of free and fair election this time and for all time!
Ong BK
May 18, 2009 22:58 PM
Mafrel Against Allowing Voter Registration Booths In Penanti
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By: Ramjit
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BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 18 (Bernama) — An election watchdog, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), has asked the Election Commission (EC) to withdraw its permission for voter registration booths (‘pondok panas’) for the Penanti state assembly seat election at the end of the month.
Mafrel Penang coordinator, Jamaluddin Abdullah, said the organisation will send a memorandum to the EC tomorrow to ensure that the polling day was free from any campaigning.
He said voters must be free to cast their votes calmly without any interference, influence or pressure..
Speaking at a news conference here, he said as the EC had provided facilities for voters to check their status there was no need for the voter registration booths.
Jamaluddin said as the Barisan Nasional (BN) was not contesting there would be lesser campaigning.
“If the opposition uses the booths to campaign on polling day, it would not be fair to independent candidates as the latters’ election machinery will be no match compared to the opposition’s,” he said.
Jamaluddin said previously the EC had disallowed the booths from being 50m from the polling stations but the ruling was rescinded after the opposition parties met the commission.
– BERNAMA
