The Star
Monday, December 3, 2007
KOTA BARU: Political parties which lose in elections should not make the Election Commission their scapegoat by blaming the electoral process, said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.

“Do your own post-mortem and stop making the EC the scapegoat for your own shortcomings,” he advised political parties and other groups which continuously harped on certain allegations against the commission.
“They have resorted to making all kinds of wild allegations to win supporters.
“They are doing it for political mileage at the expense of the EC.
“When we ask them, ‘where are the offences committed by the EC?’ they cannot answer,” he told reporters after opening an election preparation workshop for Kelantan returning officers at the Renaissance Hotel here yesterday.
Reiterating that the EC was a non-partisan body and not linked to any active political organisation, Abdul Rashid said some people were becoming overly emotional.
He added that they were making groundless accusations to the extent of smearing the image of the commission and eroding public confidence in it.
“Let me repeat my assertion that I am willing to step down if there is proof of wrongdoings by the EC,” he retorted.
Abdul Rashid said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who also heads the Barisan Nasional coalition, had always encouraged him to be fair.
“He never asked the EC for any favour and the Barisan does not need any help,” Abdul Rashid added.
He said the EC’s main role is to provide a democratic election machinery to ensure polling is done smoothly and legally.
“Our people’s votes are secret and well guarded by the EC. All victories are legitimate.”
“I think we are the fastest in the world in releasing results. Our management of the election is dynamic and among the world’s best.”