Ex-Umno minister implies elections not fair
By Syed Jeymal Zahiid, FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: In an unprecedented move, a former Umno minister implicitly stated that the electoral process here is not free and fair, and that Bersih 2.0′s demands are fundamental.
Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir’s bold remark was in stark contradiction with that of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement this morning that Barisan Nasional never cheated in the polls.
“The government knows whether elections are clean or not. The people know whether the elections are clean or not,” Kadir said, leaving his audience to read between the lines.
He also pointed out that voters now were more educated and aware of the ruling party’s attempt to cling on to power by putting a “yes man” in charge of the Election Commission.
“Cannot lah like this,” he said, drawing laughter from those present.
Kadir, who was tourism minister during the Mahathir administration, was speaking at the launch of the Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah) here today.
Reminding the government that it was duty-bound to uphold free and fair elections, the former MP suggested that the powers-that-be engage Bersih 2.0, which had been declared illegal.
“A free and fair election is very fundamental.Why can’t we engage them (Bersih 2.0)?” added the deputy president of Amanah.
Harsh response ignites anger
Kadir said the founding fathers had ensured that elections in this country were free and fair, with former premiers like Tunku Abdul Rahman and Najib’s father, Tun Abdul Razak, “making sure that a level playing field was given to all contesting.”
