Sunday 16 June 2013

QUESTIONABLE GE-13 ELECTORAL ROLL






DR HIEW King Cheu, the newly elected ADUN N16 Luyang, questions SPR or Election Commission (EC) on the electoral roll for the first quarter ending 31st March 2013 was gazette on the 11th April 2013, and that was only 11 days after the closing date of the first quarter 2013, and was immediately used for the 13th General Election (GE13) on 5th May, 2013.

The dissolution of Parliament was on 3rd April 2013. The election was held on 5th May 2013, and the early voting on 30th April 2013. The EC Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof in his announcement of the 13th General Election on 10th April 2013 said that the electoral roll to be used shall be the gazette on 11th April 2013 (the next day) comprising 13,268,002 Malaysian to vote of which 12,992,661 ordinary voters, 275,341 early voters and 2,954 absent voters from overseas.

SPR or EC Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, in his press statement (as published in the Daily Express Page 3 on Thursday 13th June 2013), stated that the EC updates the electoral roll on a daily basis and gazette it “quarterly” after a stringent due process with the list being exhibited for 14 days and the names verified by the National Registration Department (NRD).

It appeared that the electoral roll, as announced on 10th April 2013 by EC Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, used for the 13th General Election (GE13) was an immediate gazette following the announcement. How did the electoral roll satisfy the two time requirements as stated by the EC Deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad - (1) exhibit for 14 days, and (2) verification by NRD? There are obviously other administrative procedures such as filing of objections, questions and answers, petitions, et cetera before an electoral roll will proceed to be a government gazette document.

It has been observed that the two previous gazette electoral rolls (attached) for the second quarter 30th June 2012 and last quarter 31st December 2012 were gazette on 16th August 2012 and 22nd February 2013 respectively. It took more than one and a half months from the date of the ending quarters. Was the electoral roll used for GE13 gazette according to the proper administrative procedures and time frame required? These raise the issues of invalidity for breaches of the rules by electoral administrators and in this case the EC Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

It appeared that the gazette of electoral roll for the first quarter (31st March 2013) had not followed the administrative procedures before it was finalized as a requirement under Section 9A of the Election Act 1958.

In the first place, there was definitely insufficient time for public exhibit of 14 days and following which the filing of objections (questions and answers) and petitions to the EC on any irregularities on the electoral roll, verification of names by NRD, etc. It is only after clearing all issues pertaining to the electoral roll that the EC will proceed to grant the roll for gazette to become an officially approved document under Section 9A of the Election Act 1958.

On 15th June 2002, the Legislature passed an amendment to the Election Act 1958 with the inclusion of Section 9A that deems an electoral roll that has been certified with the notice of the certification published in the gazette to be final and binding and shall not be questioned or appealed against in, or reviewed, quashed or set aside by any court.

Section 9A states that after an electoral roll has been certified or re-certified, as the case may be, and notice of the certification or re-certification has been published in the gazette as prescribed by regulations made under this Act, the electoral roll shall be deemed to be final, binding and shall not be questioned or appealed against, or reviewed, quashed or set aside by, any court.

Here we can see two distinct ‘entities’ - one is the electoral roll and the other is the gazette. The electoral roll is ineffective until and unless it followed the administrative procedures for it to be gazette and become an official document to be used in the election. The electoral roll is in breach of the administrative procedures if it does not follow the prescribed steps to ensure that it is a properly gazette document.

The electoral roll is not law. Its survival and effectiveness depends on the gazette. If the electoral roll is not gazette then it is useless or if the gazette is ruled invalid, the roll is dead.

A gazette is also not law. It is just a public journal of the government. Where our government is concerned, publishing information in a gazette is a legal necessity by which official documents come into force and enter the public domain.

The one that is being ‘protected’ by Section 9A is the electoral roll only if and when it has passed the administrative procedures and becomes a gazette document, but not just the gazette by itself.

So logically the people should not disturb the roll that has gone through the procedures to make a “gazette electoral roll” such as the second quarter 2012 and last quarter 2012 electoral rolls. We are instead after the process by which the document was gazette, that is, for the first quarter 2013 electoral roll that was officially used for the GE13.

A gazette is only lawful if the documents to be published are made in accordance with the law. Since the electoral roll used for the GE13 did not follow the procedures prior to it becoming a gazette document, it is therefore unlawful and “null and void”.

Dr Hiew said by looking at the facts that the 11th April 2013 gazette electoral roll which was used in the GE13 apparently did not follow the statutory requirements and procedures of establishing it as a gazette document.

The question now stands, whether the 11th April 2013 electoral roll, is gazette according to the prescribed procedures remains to be answered by the SPR or EC. This is alleged “administrative breaches” and procedural non-compliance. Therefore, this has raised big doubts on its validity, and this may cause the result of the GE13 to be “null and void”. We are expecting the SPR to give a full explanation on this matter.

28 comments:

  1. Apabila dilihat di laman sosial, terdapat pihak tertentu yang kurang berpuas hati dengan keputusan pilihan raya ini.

    Ketelusan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dipertikai dengan beberapa kejadian yang masih dalam siasatan.

    Namun apa yang sudah berlaku itu pasti ada hikmahnya, baik menang atau kalah, semua pihak memperoleh pengajarannya, malah dari segi perancangan strategik, BN sememangnya menggunakan keseluruhan kelebihannya untuk memenangi pilihan raya ini. Bagi pakatan pembangkang, usaha dan idea lain harus diketengahkan untuk menambat hati rakyat. Biarlah yang berlaku itu berlalu dan gunakan masa yang ada untuk terus melihat ke hadapan. Paling penting, BN perlu memenuhi manifesto dan janji mereka untuk tempoh lima tahun ini dan pembangkang pula jika ingin mengambil alih pemerintahan, perlu gunakan pelbagai kaedah lain yang boleh menambat hati rakyat.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sama ada wujud atau tidak sebarang ketidaksempurnaan ketika PRU-13 yang sudah berakhir, ia boleh dilihat sebagai permulaan kepada pilihan raya bersih dan adil di negara ini.

    Tidak ada faedah membawa rakyat ke jalanan untuk menolak kerajaan BN atau meminta masyarakat antarabangsa mengutuk sistem pilihan raya di Malaysia ketika pada masa sama, SPR sudah melakukan yang terbaik bagi memenuhi permintaan anda (Anwar) dan Bersih. Jadilah seorang yang ‘gentleman’ dan ketua pembangkang yang baik dan bawa pasukan anda ke landasan yang berfungsi secara baik sebagai pembangkang yang konstruktif berbanding menidak dan mengkritik setiap polisi yang diperkenalkan kerajaan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ini disebabkan rakyat juga tidak beryakin dengan sistem PRU. Banyak juga laporan penipuan.

      Delete
  3. Hakikatnya, tidak kira siapa, pemimpin politik di negara ini perlu meletakkan kepentingan rakyat dan negara ini jauh di depan selari dengan usaha bagi memasti dan mewujudkan sebuah negara Malaysia yang aman.Walaupun wujud perbezaan ideologi, tidak mustahil perbezaan yang wujud itu mampu diterjemahkan melalui usaha berhemah dan bermoral tinggi bagi membentuk masyarakat Malaysia yang dihormati dunia.Yang menang tak menang semuanya, manakala yang kalah tidak hilang semuanya. Bukalah lebaran baru dengan semangat baru jika benar-benar mahu memperjuang dan membela nasib rakyat di negara ini.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Momentum pertikaian keputusan PRU13 semakin tidak mendapat sambutan di kalangan penyokong pembangkang sendiri. Ia berikutan semakin ramai penyokong mula sedar bahawa usaha menentang keputusan pilihanraya dengan berdemo di jalan raya adalah satu usaha sia-sia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tuntutan boleh dibuat melalui cara yang lebih bermanfaat.

      Delete
  5. Pada perhimpunan haram pertama di Kelana Jaya, tampak gah dengan kehadiran ribuan penyokong. Akan tetapi kemegahan itu tidak bertahan lama apabila lebih 80% yang menghadiri perhimpunan tersebut terdiri daripada kaum cina.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Perkara serupa dapat dilihat dalam siri perhimpunan haram di beberapa negeri. Terbaru perhimpunan di Padang Timur (Amcorp Mall), Petaling Jaya juga menyaksikan kebanjiran masyarakat cina yang menjadi majoriti dari 10,000 peserta demo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhimpunan ini seakan menjejas kestabilan dan keamanan.

      Delete
  7. Mereka berhimpun memfitnah Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang dakwa mereka menipu keputusan PRU. Mereka menuduh berlaku blackout, peti undi hilang, pengundi hantu, dakwat hilang dan macam-macam lagi.

    Pertikaian ini hanya ingin menggambarkan bahawa kononnya penipuan itu benar-benar berlaku. Walhal tiada langsung bukti kukuh yang dapat mereka tampilkan di khalayak penyokong tegar mereka!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Selepas keputusan PRU diwartakan, Anwar telah bertindak membuat laporan polis bagi mempertikaikan dan mengemukakan alasan bahawa wujud penipuan. Tetapi alasan yang diberikan hanyalah mengenai dakwat kekal!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kenapa tidak laporkan isu peti undi hilang, blackout dan pengundi hantu yang begitu lantang diucap beliau dalam setiap perhimpunan. Jelaslah bahawa Anwar selaku ketua umum gagal dalam memainkan game untuk discredit keputusan PRU lalu.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anwar dilihat keseorangan dalam game kotor beliau apabila rakan partinya PAS-DAP tidak terlibat secara agresif menyokong idea ini. Malahan di akhir-akhir siri perhimpunan, kadar kehadiran penyokong juga merosot dengan drastik.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Keadaan ini menunjukkan Anwar yang memimpin PKR semakin keseorangan dalam terus mempertikaikan keputusan majoriti rakyat yang mengundi pada PRU13 lepas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suara rakyat tidak didengari. Demokrasi juga tidak tercapai.

      Delete
  12. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    THE 13th General Election was probably the milestone that marked the period in our nation's history where the post-independence generation of Malaysians are shrouded with and consumed by negativity. Many are trapped in a destructive frame of mind, and it manifests in the manner in which they discuss and express their dissatisfaction on almost all issues.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Anti-establishment sentiments and negativity towards any form of conformance are hailed as "happening", the truth and real; while any suggestion towards moderation as the underlying principle, is jeered upon. Laws or establishment's agencies that do not accommodate to their way of thinking are labelled and rejected.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Who are the culprits responsible for breeding and promoting such attitudes? It is rather unfortunate that most opposition supporters hate to hear this, but the truth must be told. We need an opposition because in a thriving democracy it would serve the nation very well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Especially if it is a credible opposition voice that provides the check and balance necessary in any democratic system. Respecting the establishment that was elected does not mean it is accepted to be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Ideally, the opposition's inputs should contribute to positive and brilliant ideas that are beneficial to the people. The key words are positive, constructive, check and balance and beneficial to all.

    ReplyDelete
  17. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Compare them with the sort of opposition leaders and pact that we now have and we can see where the opposition had digressed. We should ask ourselves is it only important to criticise the establishment but leave the opposition untouched? Is that the mark of a healthy democracy that we want to uphold? Just because they are the opposing side therefore they can do no wrong and allowed to act irresponsibly?

    ReplyDelete
  18. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    One point that many failed to mention as a result of the general election was that it clearly exposed the modus operandi of the opposition in politics. Their leader's flip-flop on issues relating to race and religion. Their irresponsible smearing campaigns using out of context arguments to incite hate, confusing believers and worse of all, using outright lies.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Their conscious effort to breed one-track mind supporters who will support them despite the negative or destructive outcome. All these took place long before the polls and it is continuing now. Can we honestly declare these are the acts of a responsible and constructive opposition?

    ReplyDelete
  20. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Perhaps those who could not see these facts revealed then or now, were seated too close to the television screen. Take a few steps back and look at these leaders who claim to be near perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  21. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    Having said that, we must arrest this slide into negativity and polarisation in our society created by an irresponsible opposition. Malaysians are dynamic and greatly value moderation. We have grown as a nation because Malaysians never welcomed aggression, negativity or destructive ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD ACCEPT THE DEFEAT AND FOCUS ON POSITIVE CHANGE

    As a nation we can effectively institute whatever positive changes necessary and become stronger and not easily succumb to opportunistic manipulations. Our focus should always be positive, moderate, and forward thinking. The law of attraction applies to the whole nation as well. We reap what we sow.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Only the High Court can decide on by-elections in relation to the 13th General Election, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

    "The process does not just end at the High Court, however, as the final say is with the Federal Court," he said after an interview on the Nasional FM radio station at Angkasapuri here Wednesday.

    He said the EC would only comply with a High Court or Federal Court order to annul a parliamentary or state seat and to hold a by-election.

    "The EC cannot just declare a by-election on the urging of certain parties," he said.

    Furthermore, the EC has yet to determine the number of election petitions filed so far, he added.

    "As of late yesterday (Tuesday) evening the EC has not received a single petition, despite media reports saying a number of them had been filed," he said.

    Commenting on PKR alleged boycott of the Parliament sitting which would start on June 24, he said the party should stop defying parliamentary regulations.

    "If they don't take the oath they won't be allowed into the session," he said.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Petisyen sudah dibuat, kini mahkamah akan menentukannya.

    ReplyDelete