1^st June 2009

The Penanti by-election¹ is the latest out of six by–elections held 14 months after last year’s General Election. The Penanti seat felt vacated following the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin due to graft charges last month. This has prompted Barisan Nasional (BN) to boycott the election on the ground that the nation’s economy is of priority rather than wasting public fund for unnecessary by-election. At the nomination day on 23^rd May, four candidates qualified to contest in this by-election. They are Dr. Mansor Osman from PKR, while others are Aminah Abdullah, Nai Khan Ari and Kamarul Ramizu Idris all Independent candidates.

Our observations during campaigning period and on the Election Day found that despite the usual intensity like in any previous elections, the absence of Barisan Nasional machineries were felt by everyone but heavy police presence is still notable. In all polling centers observed, police has deployed units of Light Strike Force (LSF) equipped with riot gears stationed at every entrance of the polling stations raising a question of its necessity. It is also notable that some police were seen walking inside of the polling centers.

At Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Jit Sin polling centers in Berapit, NIEI is being informed that at least eight electorates found their names were missing from the Penanti electoral rolls. The Election Commissioner who was presence at the polling centre claimed that the electorates should have checked their status ahead of time. Calling it as “last minutes mentality” shows that the Election Commission was not ready to handle such problem despite promising that all complaints will be dealt in due process of law.

Voting that began at 8am and closed at 5pm saw the lowest voter turnout in the election history with 46.15 % turning up to cast their ballots. The final turn out was 7,100 voters. Our observation found that the reduced interest in voting is likely due to the absence of rival party unlike in previous by elections in Permatang Pauh (P.44), Kuala Terengganu (P.36), Bukit Gantang (P.59), Bukit Selambau (N.25) and Batang Ai (N.23) where more than 80 % turnout. NIEI is expecting that the next by-election in Manek Urai (N.14), Kelantan will be as intense due to the political rivalry of Parti Islam seMalaysia (PAS) and United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) vying for the seat on 14^th July 2009.

NIEI however supports the implementation of barring the setting up of the polling booth (pondok panas) by any contesting parties and recommends that political parties not to transport electorates to and from polling stations. We also recommend that party agents should only be present at the EC’s designated polling booths. Finally, we continuously urge the Election Commission to introduce the use of indelible ink in all the upcoming elections to add the credibility of electoral processes as stipulated in the international standards and norms.

Amin Iskandar

Executive Director