Don’t take it personally, Abdul Rashid urged

(The Star) PETALING JAYA: The Opposition has given varying reactions to the statement by former Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman that he might take legal action against Pakatan Rakyat MPs who have “assassinated” his character.

PKR information chief Tian Chua said Abdul Rashid could sue if he felt he had been maligned, adding:

“Let him sue. But as far as we are concerned, the EC has not given an image of impartiality.”

Abdul Rashid, he said, had made statements before the general election that there was only one party – Barisan Nasional – that could govern the country, which showed that he was not neutral.

Tian Chua said the issue at hand was on the reform of the EC, adding: “This is about the EC. Don’t take it so personally.”

On Tuesday, Abdul Rashid said he was considering suing several Opposition members whom he claimed had slandered and defamed him and “assassinated my character time and again”.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it was Abdul Rashid’s right to take legal action against anyone he claimed defamed him.

“But he must have the evidence,” said Lim.

He said the main thing was that the people wanted to see fair, neutral and independent elections.

“We are worried about the electoral roll, cheating during elections and postal votes. These are very important issues to ensure that the poll results reflect the will of the people,” he said in George Town.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said Abdul Rashid, as the most experienced person in the electoral system, should look into reforming the EC.

“He should make himself more useful by making contributions to reform the EC, to make it internationally recognised for being free and fair,” he said yesterday.

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar said: “We are only complaining about how the Election Commission is being run.

“PAS has always raised the issue that the commission should be managed in a transparent manner without being influenced by the ruling party,” he said.