February 24, 2013
GE-13: International Poll Monitors needed
by Dennis Ignatius (02-23-13) @ http://www.malaysiakini.com
COMMENT: Any time now, Malaysians have been expecting council to be 
dissolved as great as general elections to be called. It comes during a time when Malaysians have grown increasingly endangered about a state of their republic after over 55 years of abusive one-party rule.
Rampant corruption as great as sum abuse of energy have wrought untold damage. The institutions of a democracy parliament, a probity system, a polite service as great as a media have been rendered dysfunctional by an rude executive.
Predictably, apply oneself for tellurian rights has deteriorated; billions have been mislaid to corruption as great as a country continues to slip in conditions of key benchmarks upon transparency, graft, press leisure as great as great governance. More than 300,000 Malaysians migrated in 2008-2009 alone.
While a government has publicly committed itself to liberalising a public square, its actions have left much to be desired. Political reforms have merely altered a minute of a law while leaving total a suggestion of hang-up as great as control during a back of them. In short, a reforms have been zero some-more than an exercise in deception.
If zero changes, Malaysia could great find itself a failing state.In recent years, Malaysians from all walks of life have come together similar to never prior to to signal, in no capricious terms, which they wish change.
Last year, hundreds of thousands of citizens turned out across a republic to direct giveaway as great as satisfactory elections. They were greeted with tear gas, containing alkali spray, razor handle as great as demonstration police.
Other adult initiatives have additionally perceived hitherto unheard of levels of support. This rising domestic activism is profoundly enlivening as great as can only be great for democracy.
Hopes as great as Fears
Now upon a night prior to of a really vicious 13th general election, both goal as great as fright abound. The goal is which shift can be effected in a pacific as great as approved demeanour through a ballot box as great as which we can retrieve a democracy, recover apply oneself for tellurian dignity as great as rebuild a nation.
The fear, upon a other hand, is which a will of a people will be thwarted by large electoral fraud or by other means.
In a last general election, a government was clearly unprepared for a huge swing to a Opposition as great as a corresponding loss of key states. This time around, their actions suggest which they have been not starting to take any chances.
Thousands of indeterminate voters, for example, have unexpected been purebred with most pity a same postal address. Migrant unfamiliar workers additionally appear to have been illegally combined to a electoral rolls.
These concerns have been so widespread which 92 percent of Malaysians surveyed recently longed for to see a electoral rolls spotless up prior to a elections. Clearly, a Election Commission (EC) no longer enjoys a confidence of a electorate.
Indeed, there have been already so most discrepancies as great as inconsistencies in a electoral roll which a little cruise it roughly unfit to have giveaway as great as satisfactory elections. The EC, of course, denies these allegations though refuses to carry out an open as great as transparent investigation.
To all this may be combined a gerrymandering which has left upon for years as great as a government's near total control of radio as great as a print media. The electoral personification margin in Malaysia is, therefore, anything though level.
The Prime Minister has called upon a Opposition, as great as all Malaysians, to accept a results of a elections. It is a in accord with request supposing which a elections have been conducted properly. In any case, he himself has not given a organisation joining which he as great as his celebration will additionally apply oneself a results of a elections as great as promote a pacific send of energy to a Opposition, should it somehow win.
Other approved nations can help
Malaysia's partners abroad, quite other approved governments, have been no doubt already fully wakeful of a incident in Malaysia. Their ambassadors as great as high commissioners stationed in Kuala Lumpur would have certainly briefed them connected with a maturation incident here.
Besides, most heads of government, unfamiliar ministers as great as others have additionally visited Malaysia over a years. Hopefully, they saw some-more than gleaming towers, shiny brand new cars as great as easy pickings. Regrettably, approved nations all as good mostly put vital as great as business interests forward of! a reall y principles of leisure as great as democracy upon which their own nations have been premised.
The question is what will other democracies right away do during this vicious time in Malaysia's history? Will they stand upon a sidelines or will they stand up for democracy?
No a single is suggesting, of course, which they send in a marines, impose sanctions or tract regime change; a onslaught for democracy in Malaysia is ours as great as ours alone. It will be won or mislaid upon a strength of a own courage, conviction as great as integrity to bring about pacific change.
There is much, however, which other democracies can legitimately do to help. They can, for example, insist which a government conducts a elections according to internationally accepted approved standards as great as in an open as great as transparent demeanour consistent with a constitution.
They can shine a spotlight upon a total electoral process and, if it proves to be fraudulent, repudiate a government a legitimacy which it seeks within a community of approved nations. Democracies contingency reason a single an additional accountable, contingency they not?
International check monitors needed
Democratic nations can additionally press a government of Malaysia to accept genuine choosing monitors, not a ones from non-democratic nations which a government tends to prefer. Malaysia has, after all, sent choosing monitors to other countries as great as should be open to receiving them as well.
In fact, parliamentarians from all approved nations, as great as quite from a Commonwealth, should revisit Malaysia in a single capacity or an additional during a elections whether or not they have been invited. They competence humour a same fate as Australian Senator Nick Xe! nophon ( left) who was deported from Malaysia recently as a "security risk" for coming to talk about electoral reform, though during least it draws attention to a incident in Malaysia.
Western democracies in sold have extensive leverage. They have used it most times prior to to secure counterclaim as great as other contracts or benefit vital advantage. They ought to use which precedence right away to assistance safeguard giveaway as great as satisfactory elections.
Perhaps, events elsewhere in a universe generally a remarkable rise of some-more radical, anti-western regimes have caused approved nations to be wary of change. As a evidence goes, better a demon we know than a demon we don't. Those in Malaysia who seek to resist shift have been counting upon that.
The incident in Malaysia is, however, completely different. We right away have in place a united, credible as great as viable approved pick to a ruling celebration as great as a beginning of a genuine two-party complement which is a fundamental exigency to a functioning democracy. This is an exciting domestic development in itself with far-reaching as great as certain implications for Malaysia's future.
Contrary to central propaganda, therefore, shift will not bring disharmony as great as uncertainty though genuine stability, wealth as great as greater leisure for all. A giveaway as great as truly approved Malaysia can, as great as will be, an impulse to other building countries. Malaysia can be which role model for approved transition as great as shift which is much needed in a universe today.
Democratic nations have an obligation, therefore, to reason a watching brief as Malaysia prepares for elections.
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