By Rahmah Ghazali
UPDATED PETALING JAYA: PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim will take legal action against the Election Commission over the Hulu Selangor by-election.
Seaking at a press conference at his residence here this morning, the prominent lawyer-turned-politician accused the EC of violating its constitutional duty.
He alleged that the commission had allowed intimidation, false information as well as unfair and illegal electoral practices by the Barisan Nasional machinery during the campaign.
Zaid also said he will file an election petition against the “blatant bribery” by BN workers and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
“The conduct of the prime minister was shameless and without precedent. More importantly, it is illegal. We have witnessess who are willing to come forward,” he said.
An election petition needs to be filed within 28 days of the election result.
Utusan on the hit list as well
Meanwhile, the former law minister, who founded the country's biggest law firm, is also training his legal guns on Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia, for calling him a “kaki botol” (alcoholic).
“I was never an alcoholic. Whatever (alcohol) I consumed was no more than what (former premier Dr) Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno leaders had consumed,” he said.
Zaid reiterated that EC should not have allowed such a “malicious” campaign.
From the word go on nomination day (April 17), Umno leaders, including Mahathir, zeroed in on Zaid's “un-Islamic traits”, accusing him of being an alcoholic and gambler.
Umno had hoped that an attack based on religion would sway the Malays, who form the majority of the electorate.
Zaid had admitted to drinking in the past, but said he has since repented.
In Sunday's by-election, Zaid was defeated by BN's P Kamalanathan by a majority of more than 1,700 votes.
UPDATED PETALING JAYA: PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim will take legal action against the Election Commission over the Hulu Selangor by-election.
Seaking at a press conference at his residence here this morning, the prominent lawyer-turned-politician accused the EC of violating its constitutional duty.
He alleged that the commission had allowed intimidation, false information as well as unfair and illegal electoral practices by the Barisan Nasional machinery during the campaign.
Zaid also said he will file an election petition against the “blatant bribery” by BN workers and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
“The conduct of the prime minister was shameless and without precedent. More importantly, it is illegal. We have witnessess who are willing to come forward,” he said.
An election petition needs to be filed within 28 days of the election result.
Utusan on the hit list as well
Meanwhile, the former law minister, who founded the country's biggest law firm, is also training his legal guns on Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia, for calling him a “kaki botol” (alcoholic).
“I was never an alcoholic. Whatever (alcohol) I consumed was no more than what (former premier Dr) Mahathir Mohamad and other Umno leaders had consumed,” he said.
Zaid reiterated that EC should not have allowed such a “malicious” campaign.
From the word go on nomination day (April 17), Umno leaders, including Mahathir, zeroed in on Zaid's “un-Islamic traits”, accusing him of being an alcoholic and gambler.
Umno had hoped that an attack based on religion would sway the Malays, who form the majority of the electorate.
Zaid had admitted to drinking in the past, but said he has since repented.
In Sunday's by-election, Zaid was defeated by BN's P Kamalanathan by a majority of more than 1,700 votes.
Press Statement by Datuk Zaid
1. Every citizen has a fundamental right to vote. But this right is meaningless if he is not able to exercise it because his name is removed from the electoral roll without his knowledge; or if he is intimidated, or bribed or given all kinds of inducements to influence his choice.
In the recent Hulu Selangor by-election, we witnessed all of the above. We have witnesses who will come forward with the necessary evidence of blatant bribery starting from the Barisan Nasional (BN) party worker right up to the Prime Minister (PM) himself. The conduct of the Prime Minister is shameless and without precedent. More importantly it is illegal. In these circumstances, we will file an election petition as soon as my legal team is ready to do so. Any voter from Hulu Selangor who wants to volunteer relevant information to any of the PKR, DAP or PAS offices.
2. The conduct of free and fair elections is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission. I maintain that they have violated that duty in the recent by-election. They have allowed intimidation, false information, and unfair and illegal electoral practices by the BN machinery without any attempt to stop them. In fact, it was obvious to me that the Election Commission was on the side of BN and wanting BN to win. I will therefore institute appropriate legal action against the Election Commission, in hope that future elections will be conducted fairly to reflect the will of the people.
I will also sue Utusan Malaysia for calling me kaki botol. I was never an alcoholic. Whatever I consumed was no more than whatever Mahathir and other UMNO leaders had consumed. The Election Commission should not have allowed for such a malicious and false campaign.
3. Pakatan Rakyat will mobilize a fresh campaign to make free and fair elections a reality in this country. We will never be able to reflect the will of the people and form the next Federal government if BN can conduct the elections as they see fit, as they are doing now. Our Election Commission must conduct elections that conform to international standards. Our country must allow for international observers to attend the Sibu by-election and all other elections in the future. I ask the PM if he is as popular as he claims, then why is he so afraid of a free and fair fight with the Opposition?
4. A Pakatan International Support group will be launched in London in July. This is to garner international support for free and fair elections in Malaysia. Malaysians residing overseas are eligible to be members of this group. They will make representations and provide information to other countries and international organizations on how elections are conducted here and what the ruling party in Malaysia has done to stay in power. By exerting international pressure so we hope this BN government will one day allow for free and fair elections.
Zaid Ibrahim
Hulu Selangor By-Election Candidate
Central Leadership Council Member
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
1. Every citizen has a fundamental right to vote. But this right is meaningless if he is not able to exercise it because his name is removed from the electoral roll without his knowledge; or if he is intimidated, or bribed or given all kinds of inducements to influence his choice.
In the recent Hulu Selangor by-election, we witnessed all of the above. We have witnesses who will come forward with the necessary evidence of blatant bribery starting from the Barisan Nasional (BN) party worker right up to the Prime Minister (PM) himself. The conduct of the Prime Minister is shameless and without precedent. More importantly it is illegal. In these circumstances, we will file an election petition as soon as my legal team is ready to do so. Any voter from Hulu Selangor who wants to volunteer relevant information to any of the PKR, DAP or PAS offices.
2. The conduct of free and fair elections is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission. I maintain that they have violated that duty in the recent by-election. They have allowed intimidation, false information, and unfair and illegal electoral practices by the BN machinery without any attempt to stop them. In fact, it was obvious to me that the Election Commission was on the side of BN and wanting BN to win. I will therefore institute appropriate legal action against the Election Commission, in hope that future elections will be conducted fairly to reflect the will of the people.
I will also sue Utusan Malaysia for calling me kaki botol. I was never an alcoholic. Whatever I consumed was no more than whatever Mahathir and other UMNO leaders had consumed. The Election Commission should not have allowed for such a malicious and false campaign.
3. Pakatan Rakyat will mobilize a fresh campaign to make free and fair elections a reality in this country. We will never be able to reflect the will of the people and form the next Federal government if BN can conduct the elections as they see fit, as they are doing now. Our Election Commission must conduct elections that conform to international standards. Our country must allow for international observers to attend the Sibu by-election and all other elections in the future. I ask the PM if he is as popular as he claims, then why is he so afraid of a free and fair fight with the Opposition?
4. A Pakatan International Support group will be launched in London in July. This is to garner international support for free and fair elections in Malaysia. Malaysians residing overseas are eligible to be members of this group. They will make representations and provide information to other countries and international organizations on how elections are conducted here and what the ruling party in Malaysia has done to stay in power. By exerting international pressure so we hope this BN government will one day allow for free and fair elections.
Zaid Ibrahim
Hulu Selangor By-Election Candidate
Central Leadership Council Member
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
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