Foreign observers manifestation of country's political maturity, says Suhakam

KUALA LUMPUR: Having foreign observers during the coming 14th General Election (GE14) is good because it is the manifestation of the country's political maturity, says Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail.
"If we have nothing to hide, we should allow people to look at us. People come to see us not to show us the correct way, but because we know we can conduct our elections well," he told reporters after a closed-door discussion on the media's role in free and fair elections here today.
However, he said these observers had to merely observe the election process and not check on rigging.
Razali added that Malaysia, too, should have its own way of monitoring the process and hence, Suhakam was taking up the task voluntarily during GE14 with 50 observers comprising commissioners, staff and volunteers, stationed at selected states, especially the "hot" seats, beginning three days before the polling day.
He was responding to a question on news reports saying the caretaker government had consistently refused to allow external observers during GE14.
However, the Election Commission (EC) has invited 14 countries to participate in the May 9 polls as foreign observers.
Of the 14, seven countries have agreed to send representatives to observe the GE14, namely Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.
Razali said foreign observers involved would see how a pluralistic society was able to continue to manifest its commitment towards democracy, and that the people made choices that were necessary for them.
Election is not about any political party but choosing the right person to take care of the constituency. However, somewhere down the line, Malaysians have forgotten that voting for parties should be the secondary consideration.
Razali also urged the public to file complaints relating to GE14 if they encountered practices like money politics, financing, handouts and inducement because these should not be the features of elections in Malaysia.
"A free and fair election is pivotal in ensuring human rights. Having a free and fair election means human rights is functioning and that the needs of the people are being taking into account," he added.
Suhakam, for the first time will be monitoring the election from the ground. Among the places that will be monitored include "hot" seats like Bangi, Selayang, Puchong, Sungai Buloh, Titiwangsa, Lembah Pantai, as well as Kubang Pasu in Kedah and other states.
Meanwhile, Suhakam Commissioner Prof Datuk Aishah Bidin said media practitioners had to practise a fair and balanced news reporting during the GE14 because the public should have the right to access all information.
She said the emergence of the fourth estate, the social media, citizens and bloggers had become an important medium in providing information. Yet, the information they disseminate to a larger population could also lead to manipulation, .
She added that social media was hard to regulate but easy to manipulate; therefore, media practitioners should have the code of conduct in conveying and sharing information. — Bernama