Bersih 2.0 today alleged that multiple election offences have been committed during the hotly-contested Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election campaign, particularly “bribery, threats and undue influences”.

The electoral watchdog called on the people to stand up against these ‘flagrant’ abuses, saying that authorities, especially the Election Commission (EC), who are supposed to take action against these offences under the Election Offences Act 1954, have failed in their duties.

“Such flagrant violations and abuses of power cannot continue. The monitoring and enforcement authorities, being well under the ruling party’s control, are not heeding the call of the people to do their duty,” said Bersih steering committee member Datuk Toh Kin Woon.

Listing down the offences at a café here, Toh said the ‘worst offence so far’ was from Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamid.

Bersih in commenting on Zahid’s reported revelation of knowing the 2,000 RELA members who did not vote during the 13th General Election (GE), said it violated Section 5 of the Election Offences Act for the ‘maintenance of secrecy in the elections’.

“Zahid’s statement is highly troubling. It is tantamount to an intimidation of voters. Civil servants should be very worried of this admission by Zahid because it means they are deprived of the right to vote the candidate of their choice,” said Toh.

Bersih explained that civil servants are unable to exercise their right to choose their candidate when they are being “indoctrinated with the falsehood that the party in power and the government are the same”.

“With one statement, Zahid has breached multiple election laws and has committed multiple election offences. And with one statement, Zahid has shed some light into the malpractices and fraud perpetrated on the public in GE13,” added Toh.

“We are seeing an admission that Zahid violated Section 5 of the Act. It means that he could be imprisoned up to one year and RM3,000 and if convicted can even trigger a by-election in Bagan Datoh,” said former Bersih committee member Wong Chin Huat.

Bersih said it was worse still that the Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had actually rose to his defence, saying it was only an “advice” to the RELA personnel.

‘Positive inducements by BN’

Bersih listed several instances they claim had breeched election laws, namely:

- Zahid for promising RELA personnel ‘free’ uniforms if they voted for BN,

- Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek reportedly telling Teluk Intan residents that they will only get faster Internet connection if they voted BN,

- Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor vowed to give a crematorium and wedding hall to the local Indian community if BN wins the seat,

- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who launched the West Coast Expressway worth RM5 billion which would cut through Perak which was already budgeted in 2011,

- Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Welfare and Women Affairs Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who ‘chose a fortuitous time’ to perform her duty as chair of National Welfare Foundation by distributing cash and goodies to two poor families.

These leaders, Bersih alleged, had violated at least Section 5, Section 8 for ‘treating’ dinners and, Section 9 for ‘undue influence’, and bribery under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act.

Asked about DAP’s plan of preparing 25 buses to ferry voters to Teluk Intan, Bersih said that it was wrong for parties to organize voters to vote, as it would violate Section 20 of the Election Offences Act.

However, Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah explained that it was ‘okay’ if the voters paid for a subsidized amount.

“Even if the voter pay 10 cents for the transport, then it does not violate any offence. Party are not supposed to give money. If voters decide to organize themselves a way coming back, that’s voters’ business.”

Bersih said that it would be lodging a report against Zahid.