Malaysia: Citizens Denied a Fair Vote - HRW

With the latest decision by Election Commission on the non-usage of indelible ink during the polling day on 8 March 2008, this piece of news has flown round the world by now and became a laughing stock in the international community. Maybe the present caretaker gahmen couldn't care less since they are the caretaker only.

Bias in Electoral Process Favors Ruling Coalition in March 8 Poll - Human Rights Watch
(New York, March 5, 2008) – Government restraints on expression, assembly and access to state media will deny Malaysians a fair vote in the March 8 general elections, Human Rights Watch said today.

The authorities’ manipulation of the electoral process appears aimed to ensure that the ruling coalition maintains its two-thirds parliamentary majority. “Once again, elections in Malaysia are grossly unfair to the opposition,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Malaysia’s ruling coalition is too comfortable with the status quo to allow reforms that would level the playing field.” On March 8, Malaysians will vote for the national parliament. Since 1969, the ruling Barisan Nasional, a coalition consisting of 14 parties, has held a two-thirds majority in parliament, which enables it to amend the constitution at will. Opposition parties currently hold 9.6 percent of the seats in parliament.

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Tags: Election Commission, Human Rights Watch, International Community, Caretaker Government, Malaysia, Barisan Nasional