SHAH ALAM, 23 May: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) was disappointed when there are still many serious offences involving civil disturbances and campaign machinery that are not being addressed by the police.
The disruption includes the incident involving a motorcyclist against the DAP candidate for the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, at a morning market recently.
“The disturbance caused by the motorcyclist which was recorded by PEMANTAU at the 13th General Election (GE13) is still happening and it is apparently targeted at female candidates.
“The police should be decisive in taking immediate action to arrest such thugs, otherwise it will be rampant,” according to a joint statement by the Bersih 2.0 Steering Committee, chaired by Maria Chin Abdullah, and her deputy, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa.
Bersih 2.0 stressed that the move to limit interaction between any candidate and voters does not help voters choose the best candidate to represent them, be it in the State Assembly or the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat).
“Voters are entitled to get as much information on all candidates as soon as possible so that they are able to make the best decision in electing their representatives.
“Therefore, Bersih 2.0 hopes that the authorities will not take action against by-election candidates that carry out early campaigning,” the statement added.
Bersih 2.0 also urges the people to question candidates who promise infrastructural development only when campaigning because the issue is the people’s right and not a ‘reward’ for their vote.
“Reject dirty politics that touch on the personal issues of candidates. Instead, urge all parties to present policies that will be brought before legal bodies if elected as a representative,” the joint statement said.
