The request by Party PBB to the Election Commissions (EC) to make it a requirement for the volunteers from West Malaysia coming to act as polling and counting agents in the coming State elections to have WORK PERMIT is most ridiculous and full of malafide.
In the dialogue between the EC and the political parties in Kuching two days ago, the PBB representative requested to the EC to impose the requirement of a work permit for any West Malaysian who wishes to come to serve as a polling or counting agent (PACA) in the coming State Elections.
It is my view that such request is ridiculous, unlawful and full of ill intent. Firstly, these PACA are volunteers and will receive no pay. As such, under the law, there is no need for a work permit. Secondly, their presence is for the furtherance of democracy in Sarawak and should be encouraged.
In the past, some rural voting stations registered a voters’ turnout of more than 90%. This is ridiculous given that even in the urban areas, the average voters’ turnout was lower than 70%. The BN’s support rates in these suspicious voting stations soared up to 90% (which in itself is quite ridiculous also).
Therefore, we strongly suspect some malpractice in the voting process in these rural inland areas. We also suspect that the Opposition’s PACA were either bribed or cowed into submission. As such, we hope that by having our West Malaysian members acting as PACA in these areas, it will not be so easy for the BN to cheat in the polls.
Is PBB afraid that with these West Malaysian PACA stationed in the rural areas, it cannot manipulate and cheat the system? Is that the reason why this request was made to the EC?
It is a shame that while the PBB Government can allow many West Malaysian companies to come to Sarawak to exploit the NCR land, buying the land with NCR claims from the cronies of the PBB, but when it comes to clean and fair elections, it is trying to stop the West Malaysians from coming to Sarawak to act as volunteer PACAs.
We urge the EC to be professional and independent rather than submitting itself to the orders of the BN or PBB and helping BN to cheat and win.