Once underneath glow for a annulment of a preference to make make use of of a memorable ink in a 2008 polls, former Election Commission arch Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman has come out to say he was all for a make make use of of of a ink.
In fact, he said, a annulment of a preference days prior to a election had hit him so hard which he deliberate it "the biggest failure" in his twenty-six years as an "election man".
"I was toying with a thought of resigning, though suggested opposite by a lot of devoted friends not to d
o so to equivocate a kind of inherent crisis," he suggested in an email talk with Malaysiakini final week.
Supporting a make make use of of of a ink, not given there has ever been justification of cheating, though to remonstrate a open of a firmness of a polls, Abdul Rashid conspicuous a EC was afterwards all set to exercise it.
As such, he said, a fact which a EC today is claiming to be "studying a use" still, is a "big joke".
Camera shy, perhaps (having turned down a request for a talk to be available upon video), a! nd reluc tant to make enemies in his years as a retiree, Abdul Rashid is still mostly vehement in his answers to Malaysiakini, particularly upon a topic of electoral reform.
He conspicuous which a perspective of a little sectors of a supervision who contributed to a annulment of a preference to make make use of of a ink was "uncivilised as well as stupid", as well as contributed to a protests spilling onto a streets final July.
Abdul Rashid, was, however, reluctant to elaborate w! hen aske d about some-more controversial issues, like a sudden spike of citizens, as well as to illustrate voters, in Sabah during his term.
He comments upon this "hot potato", as well as what he sees as emerging goal for electoral remodel in Malaysia in a two-part interview.
The calm has edited for language, clarity as well as brevity.
What final were done to we as EC arch by civil society, as well as how far did we house such demands? What hurdles did we face in accommodating this, especially from governments leaders as well as agencies?
I could not recall any form of direct coming from a supervision or supervision agencies. Representations were done by domestic parties such as DAP, PAS, as well as PKR. Upon requests, several meetings were hold as well as their grouses! were ke enly noted.
Two issues stood out, ie, a electoral hurl as well as a memorable ink. As for a former, they demanded a finish revamp to a registration as well as a electoral hurl systems. That direct concerned constructional changes within a context of a electoral laws.
It concerned a amendments to a (Federal) Constitution, a Elections Act as well as final though not least, a registration regulations. While concurring with a little of their views, a routine would be very long-winded, unless there existed a little form of domestic will to straighten a path.
Our recommendation was which in a meantime a current hurl which was invariably being cleaned should continue to be supposed as well as used.
On a subject of a make make use of of of memorable ink... it was supposed by a elect nonetheless no a single had ever come forward with a explanation of intrigue in any of a six general elections during my twenty-six years' tenure.
Nevertheless, we wanted to really remonstrate each a single which there has never been any case of intrigue in a election, particularly (during) polling.
It has been open hold which a supervision had a different perspective over a matter, as well as it had to be deserted during a final minute. If it can be deliberate as a disaster upon my part to deliver an important duty, this is about a worst in a total of my career as an election man.
The (decision to nullify memorable ink) came upon a Apr 13, 2008, a day council was dissolved.
I was toying with a thought of resigning, though suggested opposite by a lot of devoted friends not to do so to equivocate a kind of inherent crisis.
The total of a dissenting race was after me. They even discolored my residence blockade with red paint as they were stupidly being coerced as well as assured by domestic activists which we was a law-breaker behind a preference to desert a proposed memorable ink system.
Now which a electoral body talked about a memorable ink again as well as with a backing of a government, so they say...
To me it sounds a bit uncanny when someone in a EC conspicuous which they have been undertaking a investigate upon which something, which had obviously been thoroughly studied as well as deliberate before.
What a large fun this is.
Looking back to your time as EC chief, did we design to see such events like a Bersih rallies as well as a parliamentary select committee upon electoral remodel to take place?
I have long expected which such restlessness would brief upon to a streets. That was because we swayed a election row to during slightest accept th! e indeli ble ink proposal, nonetheless a single or dual quietly resented as well as even attempted to influence a powers which be opposite it. A very uncivilized as well as stupid move, we consider.
My principle has always been which we should not urge something which is defenseless, especiall! y when a make a difference involves open interests.
There has been a lot of attention upon electoral practices. How do we see this progress? Do we see this as a pointer of a sappy society? Will it help a supervision take a some-more active purpose in reform?
I have transparent thoughts upon a vital weaknesses of a electoral system. That aside, democracy in whatever form it takes, is very much alive in Malaysia. Democratic elections conducted for about 12 times had resulted in a establishment of legitimate as well as responsible governments given a country completed its autonomy in 1957.
(...)
Protests as well as rallies happening newly signaled a entry of a brand new epoch in a domestic outlook as well as vision of a sappy society. The country has to wake up as well as cleverly try to house as well as not to confront in an contemptible as well as arrogant manner. The direct to make firm democratic practices have been don! e in a open interest, nonetheless politically-initiated or even politically-motivated.
They have been a requirements of a modern society. Gone have been a days when a crying baby can be pacified by only a piece of chocolate. we hold which with sufficient domestic will, a powers which be will set a proper pace to deliver a little reforms. We need not be in a hurry. We can do it brick by brick. We will come to a finish of a journey in democracy development underneath a present regime.
What is your perspective of a approach a EC responded to Bersih 2.0?
I have no hold upon how a EC responded to Bersih. No comment.
You were EC cabinet member for seventeen years. How do we perspective a report claiming which a current EC cabinet member spoke opposite a opposition during a supervision event? Is this something which fits a formula of control of an EC secretary?
< br>I have no hold or report upon a alleged incidence. we will not comment.
Recently, deputy budding apportion Muhyiddin Yassin conspicuous which he does not order out a probability of a royal elect of inquiry upon a make a difference of bootleg migrants in Sabah. What is your perspective upon this, vis-a-vis your knowledge of a liquid during your time as EC chief?
I have no discernible or plausible report upon a liquid of bootleg immigrants in Sabah when we was EC chief. All a time, people carried tales which were hard to take as real. They have been only hearsay. we would not want to criticism upon this issue as it is as well suppositional as well as whimsically as well political. Hot potato lah!
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