Ex-Federal Minister proposes Election Commission disallow candidates from withdrawing after Nomination
DayKOTA KINABALU: A former Federal Minister has proposed that the Election Commission disallow candidates from withdrawing from the elections after they have tiled their papers on Nomination Day.
In making the proposal, Datuk Pengiran Othman Rauf, also said that an election is a serious matter and no one should be given the opportunity to discredit its purpose.
“If we are serious about nomination procedures, we should also be serious about the intention of the candidates. Election is the means to choose responsible leaders and not the opportunists. It is not just about electing the YBs (assemblymen and Members of Parliament). We should uphold moral obligations and good practices,” he said yesterday.
Pengiran Othman, who held various posts including as a Federal minister and state minister during the then USNO Government in Sabah between 1967 and I 976, predicted that the next general election would be held soon, although the tenure of the present Government expires only in March 2009.
According to him, rules and regulations are needed to ensure that the coming general election is not tainted by serious manipulations that would render the whole process null and void.
He said if a government is formed by foul means, it could not be said to be a democratically-elected government.
For this reason, he reckoned that rules and regulations must actually be seen to be implemented without fear or favour.
“Nevertheless, the one rule in the last general election (in 2004) that needed a close examination again is where a candidate could withdraw his or her candidacy within three days after the nomination… this is like a hole in the bank vault.
“Probably this is easier for the Election Commission workers but it is bad for the purpose of an election,” said the veteran politician.
Pengiran Othman contended that the three-day cooling off period creates the time for manipulations of the election results, and could even lead to corrupt practices among the contenders.
In principle, he said, once nominated, a candidate should not be allowed to withdraw and, even if such candidate does not wish to continue in the race after the nomination, his or her name should be printed in the ballot papers.
“The process of polling, casting and counting of votes, should continue as usual to decide the winner, to ensure justice and fairness to all concerned.”
Irrespective of when the next general election is going to take place, Pengiran Othman strongly felt that the scenario of previous elections maybe repeated with minor variations.
“But politics as we have experienced it particularly in Sabah, can be unpredictable. Some rightly say the outcome of an election, especially the general election, follows the winds, meaning depending on the mood of the people especially the voters when they make their decisions,” he said.
Elaborating on the doctrine of the ‘changing winds’, Pengiran Othman said for those taking part in an election, the good day is the sunshine and the bad day is the rain.
“Politics seems to have a similar trend that goes with voters’ minds. As we know, a mind can change by the minutes and can change just before a voter casts his vote.
What really can change a voter’s mind to one’s favour? This is for politicians to ponder and to make their moves as the election draws near,” he said.
He also opined that how one looks at the coming general election may vary according to the perception of each individual.
He said that some may look at the election seriously with consequential result, while others may not bother at all.
As for the opportunists, they may rejoice with the prospect of making various gains, according to him.
“The party that goes for the number of seats only is most likely to be satisfied if it gets more seats then in the previous elections. The party may even consider its role as opposition, the watch-dog for the government, if this is what it wants and this would give it satisfaction,” he added.
Pengiran Othman said the more serious party would focus its attention on winning the majority seats to enable it to form the next government.
To get the voters’ confidence, he reckoned that it is most important to project the group’s intentions and their ability to form the government, and to form good government, they must have enough capable, experienced and trusted leaders.
Another important thing is the size of the grouping and the composition of its membership. The unity and the commitment of the group’s leaders, members and supporters are vital to ensure the group would seriously work as one team, he added.
Like in previous elections, Pengiran Othman noted that with an election fever, accusations would increase between rivalries, thus creating discord and generating excitements.
He felt that even if there were election rules and regulations, they do not seem enough to make an election free from exploitations.
“We have heard of people being threatened, black mailed or even cheated by or even cheated by selfish and unscrupulous leaders or politicians. These desperate people will do anything to keep themselves in power.
“The subtle approach is mind controlling, where the weak are being made to believe there is nothing that can be done to change the present situation in the country. This manipulation is very cleverly implanted in the minds of many that such individuals could hardy realise what is going on.
“Threats and promises become rampant as polling draws near. There is no need to be trapped helplessly. There are various ways to disentangle provided the victim has a strong will-power and determination to do so,” said Pengiran Othman.
