INITIAL OBSERVATION REPORT

PEMANTAU

INITIAL OBSERVATION REPORT

5 MAY 2013

PEMANTAU preliminary observation showed a number of major issues. These include the indelible ink, phantom voters, ballot papers, and unlawful arrest of PEMANTAU observers. However, there is improvement in the conduct of the election, especially in the reduction of pondok panas and campaigning during voting period.

Some of the worrying issues are as follows:

Indelible ink can be washed out

BERSIH 2.0’s contention on the indelible ink was proven to be true as can be seen in the reports received from our observers. With only soap and water, the so-called 7-day indelible ink can almost be immediately removed moments after polling.

Phantom voters

The fear of phantom voters is real. In Lembah Pantai, PEMANTAU observed vehicles ferrying phantom voters and suspiciously entering polling centres. They also reported non-citizens wearing police jackets while travelling in police van to polling centres. In other areas, some registered voters were denied their votes as they found others have voted on their behalf.

Irregularities in ballot papers

Irregularities were found in ballot papers. These irregularities include stained ballot papers, SPR officers found recording ballot papers’ serial numbers and unstamped ballot papers. For example, SPR at Kampung Tawas distributed unstamped ballot papers to voters from 8:00AM to 11:00AM. PEMANTAU reported that EC officals rejected requests from voters for the issuance of new ballot papers because there were marks on the paper. We have even received reports of voters/observers who were forced to cast their votes on stained ballot papers.

Arrest of 7 PEMANTAU observers

At 3:45PM, two PEMANTAU observers were arrested at SRJKC Bukit Beruang, Ayer Keroh and were brought to IPK Melaka for questioning. At 4:30PM, another five PEMANTAU observers were arrested at SRJKC Nan Yek Lee Rubber, Wangsa Maju and were investigated under S341 of Penal Code and were refused access to lawyers under S28A of Criminal Procedure Code. They are still at Taman Setapak Police Station. PEMANTAU observers were also forcefully chased out of polling centres in Pekan, Temerloh and Danau Kota by mobs believed to be from Barisan Nasional.

It is shocking that the Election Commission, in today’s NTV7 press presentation, did not respond to any of the public complaints. They too have to answer to the irregularities in the conduct of the election and harassment of PEMANTAU observers.

PEMANTAU Pilihan Raya Rakyat (PEMANTAU) comprises of:
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)
Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL)
Pusat KOMAS
For further enquiries, please contact the BERSIH 2.0 secretariat at 03-77723275 or 019-4380428.