THE WATCHDOG THAT NEEDS A WATCHDOG
4/07/2010 11:14:00 AM
Lovingly unplugged by masterwordsmith
It was with a heavy heart that I read THIS REPORT in The Malaysian Insider about how the Election Commission (EC) has dropped the local election watchdog, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), as official election monitors in the Hulu Selangor by-election. The reason - it has not sent reports for the previous nine by-elections since Election 2008.
As we all know, the Elections Commission recognizes Mafrel as the only election watchdog. Two days ago, Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar slammed them as “mouthpieces of the opposition” two days ago for saying the coalition broke election rules ahead of the April 25 vote.
With this development, it is likely that Mafrel could lose EC accreditation but it can still operate as election watchdog for the Hulu Selangor by-election when campaigning starts after nomination on April 17 .
I do not want to sound dogmatic but I firmly believe that any organization must have its books in order be it reports or accounts or documentation. It is one thing to be all fired up for a cause but one must always abide by official expectations.
This development is most disappointing for many Malaysians because MAFREL, which was appointed by the Elections Commission in 2009, is the only watchdog that monitors and reports on everything related to the conduct of elections.
It is with dismay that I read about Wan Ahmad's statement that they had given reminders after reminders to Mafrel to send in their reports but after nine by-elections starting from Permatang Pauh, not even one has been received.
Why? The report in MI does not have any statement from Mafrel explaining this situation. So how?
Wan Ahmad said that this can be perceived as “going against the conditions of appointment” as the condition of appointment was that MAFREL had to send monitoring reports. He clarified that since the Permatang Pauh by-election (in August 2008) until the Bagan Pinang by-election last year, Mafrel has not sent a report despite reminders.
As an independent body, of course Mafrel can still monitor the elections but then, what will this development mean?
There are other issues which were brought up and you can see these HERE.
I am sure Mafrel has excellent motives in monitoring the elections and we need such watchdogs to ensure clean and fair elections. However, I also hope that they will get their house in order for how can one be a watchdog if they need another watchdog to ensure they finish their reports?
Very saddening.
http://masterwordsmith-unplugged.blogspot.com/2010/04/watchdog-that-needs-watchdog.html
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Syed Ali Alhabshee
http://umnobahagiancheras.blogspot.com/2010/04/mafrel-dinasihatkan-jangan-sibuk.html
Monday, April 5, 2010
‘ Mafrel dinasihatkan jangan sibuk bermusim’ – Syed Ali
BADAN Pemantau Pilihan Raya (Mafrel) dinasihatkan supaya tidak jadi ‘penyibuk yang bermusim’ untuk mengkritik kerajaan meneruskan usaha membela nasib rakyat, tegas Ketua UMNO Bahagian Cheras, Datuk Wira Syed Ali Alhabshee.
Beliau berkata, setiap kali berlakunya Pilihan Raya Umum atau kecil, Mafrel akan mendesak Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) kononnya tidak telus dan menyalahgunakan kuasa.
Katanya, apabila berlaku pilihan raya, Mafrel sibuk buat macam-macam kenyataan menggambarkan kerajaan tidak telus tetapi selepas itu mereka senyap.
“Ini menunjukkan Mafrel sebenarnya badan bebas yang jadi kuda tunggangan pembangkang yang sibuknya bermusim, sekadar untuk memanaskan keadaan,” tegasnya.
Menurut Syed Ali, Mafrel sepatutnya sudah lama membentangkan laporan mengenai pemerhatian mereka terhadap proses pilihan raya kepada pihak SPR.
“Tetapi saya difahamkam SPR sehingga ke hari ini tidak pernah pun menerima laporan dari Mafrel mengenai perjalanan pilihan raya di negara ini, jadi apa sebenarnya yang mereka pantau?,” soalnya.
Syed Ali juga mahu keanggotaan Mafrel didedahkan kepada umum supaya rakyat dapat menilai sejauhmana badan itu bebas atau mengikut telunjuk pembangkang.
Beliau mengulas kenyataan Pengerusi Mafrel, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh yang membidas Kerajaan Pusat meluluskan pelbagai projek perumahan dan sekolah kepada penduduk Hulu Selangor.
Syed Ibrahim dalam sebuah laporan akhbar hari ini meminta SPR memberikan amaran dan mengeluarkan arahan supaya tidak ada apa-apa kempen sehingga hari penamaan calon.
Menurut Syed Ali lagi, kerajaan khususnya UMNO tetap meneruskan usaha pembelaan nasib rakyat terutama di kawasan luar bandar tidak kira sama ada berlaku pilihan raya kecil atau sebaliknya.
“Apabila berlaku pilihan raya kecil, tidak menjadi kesalahan kerajaan laksanakan pelbagai projek kerana pelan pembangunan untuk rakyat sememangnya telah lama dirancangkan,” jelasnya.
Katanya, melaksanakan sesuatu projek itu berdasarkan kepada keutamaan dan apabila berlaku sesuatu pilihan raya kecil, maka pelaksanaannya boleh disegerakan untuk faedah rakyat.
Oleh itu katanya, jika Mafrel mendapati kerajaan tidak telus dalam menghadapin pilihan raya kecil, badan tersebut boleh memgemukakan laporan lengkap kepada SPR.
Monday, April 5, 2010
‘ Mafrel dinasihatkan jangan sibuk bermusim’ – Syed Ali
BADAN Pemantau Pilihan Raya (Mafrel) dinasihatkan supaya tidak jadi ‘penyibuk yang bermusim’ untuk mengkritik kerajaan meneruskan usaha membela nasib rakyat, tegas Ketua UMNO Bahagian Cheras, Datuk Wira Syed Ali Alhabshee.Beliau berkata, setiap kali berlakunya Pilihan Raya Umum atau kecil, Mafrel akan mendesak Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) kononnya tidak telus dan menyalahgunakan kuasa.
Katanya, apabila berlaku pilihan raya, Mafrel sibuk buat macam-macam kenyataan menggambarkan kerajaan tidak telus tetapi selepas itu mereka senyap.
“Ini menunjukkan Mafrel sebenarnya badan bebas yang jadi kuda tunggangan pembangkang yang sibuknya bermusim, sekadar untuk memanaskan keadaan,” tegasnya.
Menurut Syed Ali, Mafrel sepatutnya sudah lama membentangkan laporan mengenai pemerhatian mereka terhadap proses pilihan raya kepada pihak SPR.
“Tetapi saya difahamkam SPR sehingga ke hari ini tidak pernah pun menerima laporan dari Mafrel mengenai perjalanan pilihan raya di negara ini, jadi apa sebenarnya yang mereka pantau?,” soalnya.
Syed Ali juga mahu keanggotaan Mafrel didedahkan kepada umum supaya rakyat dapat menilai sejauhmana badan itu bebas atau mengikut telunjuk pembangkang.
Beliau mengulas kenyataan Pengerusi Mafrel, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh yang membidas Kerajaan Pusat meluluskan pelbagai projek perumahan dan sekolah kepada penduduk Hulu Selangor.
Syed Ibrahim dalam sebuah laporan akhbar hari ini meminta SPR memberikan amaran dan mengeluarkan arahan supaya tidak ada apa-apa kempen sehingga hari penamaan calon.
Menurut Syed Ali lagi, kerajaan khususnya UMNO tetap meneruskan usaha pembelaan nasib rakyat terutama di kawasan luar bandar tidak kira sama ada berlaku pilihan raya kecil atau sebaliknya.
“Apabila berlaku pilihan raya kecil, tidak menjadi kesalahan kerajaan laksanakan pelbagai projek kerana pelan pembangunan untuk rakyat sememangnya telah lama dirancangkan,” jelasnya.
Katanya, melaksanakan sesuatu projek itu berdasarkan kepada keutamaan dan apabila berlaku sesuatu pilihan raya kecil, maka pelaksanaannya boleh disegerakan untuk faedah rakyat.
Oleh itu katanya, jika Mafrel mendapati kerajaan tidak telus dalam menghadapin pilihan raya kecil, badan tersebut boleh memgemukakan laporan lengkap kepada SPR.
Noh Omar
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/128357
'Mafrel is opposition's mouthpiece'Hazlan Zakaria
Apr 5, 10
5:30pmAgriculture and Agro-based Industry Noh Omar has labeled the election watchdog known as Malaysians for Free Elections (Mafrel) as the opposition's mouthpiece.
"Mafrel's statement shows it is no longer independent...it is becoming a mouthpiece for the opposition,” said Noh, the Barisan Nasional Hulu
Selangor by-election director.
He was referring to Mafrel's statement in Malay-language daily Sinar Harian that "BN has broken election rules" through early campaigning and by distributing allocations from the federal government.
Various ministers have been making the rounds of Hulu Selangor, leading their political rivals to claim that this is an attempt to 'buy' voter.
Noh, however, claimed that the programmes had been planned well before the by-election was announced.
Furthermore, he said Pakatan Rakyat politicians, including those in the Selangor government, have been doing the same thing.
He questioned Mafrel's impartiality as it has not chastised Pakatan.
"Is it being fair when it only criticises what the federal government has done. The Selangor (menteri besar) gave out land grants. Why didn't Mafrel say anything about the state government?
“It listed the allocation given by the federal and state governments. If it is truly independent, why not question the (state) allocations?
"Is it fair when it only criticises what the federal government has done? Whatever done by BN is all wrong. Whatever done by the opposition cannot be reprimanded."
Noh said the Election Commission should reconsider Mafrel's role as an independent observer.
"(Mafrel) is not qualified to be an independent body to monitor elections. It is not given full power, yet it is reprimanding (us). When it is given full power, it won't be independent, it will (take the) side (of) the opposition."
'Room in district office'
Noh also claimed that Pakatan may be improperly making use of state government facilities for its Hulu Selangor by-election campaign.
"I hav
e been informed by a district office staff that (Selangor MB) Khalid (Ibrahim, left) has asked for an office to be made ready for him in the district office.
“Is this okay? If Mafrel is truly independent, it should go down to the district office to find out."
Pakatan had earlier pledged not to involve state government machinery in campaigning.
'Mafrel is opposition's mouthpiece'Hazlan Zakaria
Apr 5, 10
5:30pmAgriculture and Agro-based Industry Noh Omar has labeled the election watchdog known as Malaysians for Free Elections (Mafrel) as the opposition's mouthpiece.
"Mafrel's statement shows it is no longer independent...it is becoming a mouthpiece for the opposition,” said Noh, the Barisan Nasional Hulu
Selangor by-election director.He was referring to Mafrel's statement in Malay-language daily Sinar Harian that "BN has broken election rules" through early campaigning and by distributing allocations from the federal government.
Various ministers have been making the rounds of Hulu Selangor, leading their political rivals to claim that this is an attempt to 'buy' voter.
Noh, however, claimed that the programmes had been planned well before the by-election was announced.
Furthermore, he said Pakatan Rakyat politicians, including those in the Selangor government, have been doing the same thing.
He questioned Mafrel's impartiality as it has not chastised Pakatan.
"Is it being fair when it only criticises what the federal government has done. The Selangor (menteri besar) gave out land grants. Why didn't Mafrel say anything about the state government?
“It listed the allocation given by the federal and state governments. If it is truly independent, why not question the (state) allocations?
"Is it fair when it only criticises what the federal government has done? Whatever done by BN is all wrong. Whatever done by the opposition cannot be reprimanded."
Noh said the Election Commission should reconsider Mafrel's role as an independent observer.
"(Mafrel) is not qualified to be an independent body to monitor elections. It is not given full power, yet it is reprimanding (us). When it is given full power, it won't be independent, it will (take the) side (of) the opposition."
'Room in district office'
Noh also claimed that Pakatan may be improperly making use of state government facilities for its Hulu Selangor by-election campaign.
"I hav
e been informed by a district office staff that (Selangor MB) Khalid (Ibrahim, left) has asked for an office to be made ready for him in the district office.“Is this okay? If Mafrel is truly independent, it should go down to the district office to find out."
Pakatan had earlier pledged not to involve state government machinery in campaigning.
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