Mandated by Article 114 of the Malaysian Constitution, EC is unfortunately under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department which may not be the ideal situation where impartiality is concerned.
Among others, the Commission is empowered to delimit constituencies, revise the electoral roll and regulate the manner elections are to be conducted.
Apart from regulating elections, EC's role includes reviewing the boundaries of parliamentary and state constituencies, holding by-elections (as and when necessary) and carrying out voters' registration exercise.
Following GE13 fraud allegations, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has announced measures to overhaul the election commission. To set up an independent bipartisan parliamentary committee comprising of govt and the opposition members to oversee the commission aimed at strengthening public confidence in the EC.
Like the meaning of billions and trillions in the economy, govt debts and deficits, many Malaysians especially the lower income bracket are unfamiliar with the word gerrymandering.
Well, in simplest term, it is an act of manipulating the boundaries of electoral constituencies to favor/benefit a particular party in the election.
In another words, when politicians (of the ruling party) lay hands on the EC with objective to change the size and borders of an area before the process of an election aimed at creating a disadvatage to the opposing party(ies), that is gerrymandering.
Or, the process of manipulating geographic boundaries in order to gain political advantage/mileage, that's gerrymandering.
In layman's term, gerrymandering is an act by the authorities to cheat their opponent(s) in an election.
Former EC chief, Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.
Abdul Rashid's admission that he had ensured the three re-delineation exercises he did were done in such a way to ensure Malays retained political power and that he did it "in proper way, not illegally," is astonishing.
It was his own bold admission on the act of gerrymandering.
Proper way and not illegally? Malay popular saying goes, "cara tidak menghalalkan perbuatan." (means do not justify the act). He has committed and thus breached what he has been entrusted the most - Impartiality.
To his question of how could BN lost in the states of Kelantan, Penang and Selangor should re-delineation was done to favor the BN is challenging our intelligence. It is amazing for a man at the helm of EC to have
asked such a 'foolish' question.
If we look at PR's victory in popular vote, any one walking in the street would know that majority of voters were against BN in GE13. Under such circumstance, gerrymandering would not be effective enough to give them a victory. Perhaps, Abdul Rashid is testing the intelligence of the people who pose the question of gerrymandering.
The fact (admission) that he failed during his tenure as EC chief to ensure EC live up to it's constitutional responsibility is nerve breaking. Isn't it a fraud that violates the federal constitution?
Now, the 29 million (Malaysia's population) question. What is his guarantee that his successor did not commit the same inclusive in recent GE13?
We have heard denial from it's current chief (denial syndrome?) and perhaps, would there be a shocking revelation by his retiring deputy Wan Ahmad Wan Omar?
Abdul Rashid's admission adds weight to all allegations of frauds in GE13. His whole tenure as former EC chief is now seen as severely lacking in credibility, integrity and professionalism.
The fact that he joins Perkasa, an organisation very much inclined to the ruling party indicates his true colours.
Has Abdul Rashid betrayed the King, country and people? It is not difficult for anyone to form an opinion.
What is obvious, his admission lead us to suspect of possible collaborations between EC and the ruling party to ensure the latter's political survival.
There have been calls to charge him under treason and/or any available laws.
Retired govt servants.
My personal exposures in saveral by-elections have 'bridged' me with saveral former govt servants, from senior officers to director or even director general of govt agencies.
When I asked them, why now, I mean why after retirement? The answers were almost common - my hands were tight and "cari makan" (earning a living).
It only shows that many govt servants were not wholeheartedly supporting the govt. In GE13, saveral former generals of the army, navy and officers of govt agencies contested in the election under the Pakatan Rakyat symbols.
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