Petition for Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER)

I have to admit that I have not visited BERSIH’s website for quite some time now. Out of boredom, I paid BERSIH a visit online just now and was surprised to see that they have a brand new petition seeking support from DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong to establish a Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER).

Details of the petition:

Ke bawah DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong,

We the undersigned Malaysians, in support of the suggestion by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), appeal to Your Majesty to establish a Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER) promptly after the 12th General Election on 8 March 2008.

Urgency of Electoral Reforms

We have no confidence in the cleanness, freeness, fairness and transparency of the electoral system and process, in all four aspects of polling, contestation, electoral system and electoral administration.

* The probity of polling is marred by instances of contamination of electoral roll, fraudulent registrations, massive transfer of voters, impersonation (phantom voters), multiple voting and non-transparent postal voting for security personnel.
* No level playing fields are observed in contestation with short campaign period, selective restrictions on campaigning, media control, unchecked over-spending, and breach of administrative neutrality.
* Marred by blatant mal-apportionment and gerrymandering, the electoral system has produced such deplorable seat-vote disproportionality whereby BN can win 91% of seats with merely 64% of votes. In two years’ time, the EC can redraw constituency boundaries again.
* The Election Commission has acted in an extremely partisan and unprofessional manner in conducting the elections. Election laws give little room for judicial recourse on election irregularities and do not provide for the rights of observers.

To date, the EC has failed to adequately meet BERSIH’s five basic demands for electoral reform:

(a) a thorough cleanup of the electoral roll;

(b) employment of indelible ink to prevent multiple voting;

(c) abolition of postal voting for military and police voters;

(d) free and fair access to media;

(e) a campaign period of 21 days.

Royal Power to Appoint RCER

We appeal to Your Majesty to exercise your royal discretionary power under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (Revised 1973) to appoint and authorize a Royal Commission on Electoral Reform (RCER) whose terms of reference should cover:

(a) matters of cleanness, freeness and fairness in the entire electoral process;

(b) fact-finding and investigation into any allegations of election fraud, irregularities and misconduct in the 12th General Elections.

Concerned Malaysians are encouraged to go and support the above mentioned petition. Remember, this is not only for us but it is also for our future generations!

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