Presence of international observers reflects electoral process transparency

PUTRAJAYA: The presence of international observers to monitor the 14th General Election (GE-14) process today, is proof there is transparency in the nation’s electoral system, says Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood.

He said the 25 international observers from Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan have had the experience of observing and monitoring the electoral process in their respective countries.

Apart from ensuring that the electoral process was transparent and fair, they would be providing inputs to the EC on how best it could improve its electoral process in the future, he told reporters at the Putrajaya Parliamentary Voting Centre in Precinct 9 Neighbourhood Complex here yesterday.

Earlier, Othman and some of the international observers were present to get a better understanding of the ballot checking process at the centre.

He said the observers would be sent out with different groups before being taken to the various polling centres in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan today. They will evaluate and monitor the GE14 polling process at the centres.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s General Election Commission chairman, Arief Budiman said he would be observing the polling in Negeri Sembilan tomorrow.

Azerbaijan Central Election Commission Secretariat head, Rovzat Gasimov hoped Malaysian voters would exercise their right to vote in electing the country’s leaders.

“In an election, it is fundamental that voters come out to vote. So, hopefully tomorrow, Malaysian voters must turn up at their respective polling stations to cast their vote,” he said. - Bernama