Bersih 2.0: Why appoint a politician as observer?

KOTA KINABALU: The Election Commission (EC) has been taken to task for appointing an active politician as an observer for the Sandakan by-election.

Sabah Bersih 2.0 questioned whether the EC had a policy to appoint active politicians as observers and if there was a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) on vetting applicants.

The electoral watchdog pointed out that Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin was seen wearing the EC’s official T-shirt and a “Pemerhati” (election observer) name tag at the nomination centre in Sandakan on Saturday.

Lajim, the former president of the now defunct Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, is now part of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in Sabah.

Bersatu is a coalition partner of Pakatan Harapan, whose component party Sabah DAP is contesting in the by-election.

The steering committee said it was of the view that election observers should be individuals or organisations that were not aligned with any political parties and should not be politically active politicians, let alone be from contesting parties.

“This is in keeping with the standard set out in the Declaration of Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations (Venice Commission).

“The importance of having nonpartisan observers for elections cannot be overstated as observers have to evaluate the overall integrity of the election process and their reports can add or diminish legitimacy to the result of elections.

“Can politically partisan politicians be neutral observers?” it said.

It said if Lajim had indeed been appointed, the EC should explain the basis for his appointment.