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Veterans volunteer as election agents at army, police camps

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The National Patriots Association says its members are willing to become election agents at army and police camps to monitor postal voting.

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Free Malaysia Today
Patriot president Mohamed Arshad Raji says senior army and police officials must ensure that postal voting involving their staff is done in a proper manner.

KUALA LUMPUR:
The National Patriots Association (Patriot) today volunteered as election agents at army and police camps to monitor postal voting for the 14th general election (GE14).

Patriot president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said the group stood by its view that postal voting and early voting should be made redundant except for those who worked offshore and were unable to return to base within the same day, like navy and maritime personnel.

“If the Election Commission (EC) persists in conducting postal voting and early voting as planned, Patriot is prepared to mobilise our members to be election agents to assist in monitoring a fair execution of postal voting and early voting in the military and police camps and establishments throughout our country,” he said in a statement.

He also urged senior army and police officials to ensure that postal voting involving their staff is done in a proper manner.

Under the Election Offences Act 1954, he said, it was an offence to mark ballot papers belonging to others.

“Commanding officers and adjutants failing to oversee that the postal voting process is conducted legally, and (who commit) any omission or commission of false recordings, may fall into the category of offences by election officers, Section 4.”

He also slammed statements by at least two senior ruling government politicians which he said had amounted to offences under the law.

Arshad said video recordings of the two had gone viral and that Patriot was shocked to view the videos and listen to the statements.

“Apparently these two leaders ignored or have failed to read Patriot’s statements appealing for political leaders from both sides of the divide to be rational in their speeches, and to avoid instigating hatred towards their opponents in the run-up to the general election.

“How could a politician who is a senior minister say to his audience that their votes could be monitored and they would know which candidate they voted for?

“This means the minister concerned used threat and coercion, which is an offence of undue influence under Section 9(1) of the act. This is contrary to the assurance given by the EC that the votes are secret and there is absolutely no chance for anyone to know once a vote has been cast.”

Arshad said the other politician had called on his followers to use violence against anyone who criticised the government and assured them that if their acts resulted in their arrest, he would bail them out.

This, he said, was an offence both under the Election Offences Act and the Penal Code.

“Feedback that we received has led us to believe that the statements by the two politicians have affected voters, especially postal and early voters who are in government service.

“Patriot once again urges politicians from both sides of the political divide to cease making unjust and uncalled for statements that could raise doubts and fear among voters, in particular among postal voters.

“Let the process of free and fair election proceed unhindered by abuse, corruption and threat, because a free and fair election is the very essence and hallmark of a democracy.”

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