NST
02 January, 2008
PETALING JAYA: Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman has been criticised for challenging the opposition to boycott the general election if they felt the electoral process was flawed. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng described Rashid’s comments as “irresponsible”.

“We are disappointed that he challenged us to boycott the elections.”
Lim said that most election commissions in the world want people to participate in the election process, but Rashid was clearly going against the objectives.
“It doesn’t make sense for the Election Commission to exist if it wants people to boycott the elections.”
Lim said Rashid’s actions was like “the police asking people to commit crimes”.
“Rashid is making politically-loaded statements. He should resign.”
Yesterday, Rashid was quoted by a newspaper as having said that opposition parties should boycott the elections if they felt the electoral process was flawed.
The opposition parties accused the commission of various things, including phantom voters and being corrupt.
“If they want to accuse the EC of such things, then there is no need to participate in the coming elections,” he said.
On DAP’s plans for this year, Lim said the party would concentrate on key issues such as crime rates, economic development and petrol subsidies.