November 9, during the recent Umno General Assembly, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continued to keep the people guessing as to when the poll will be held.
"I’ve yet to receive an inspiration as to when the general election will be held," he said.
However on Thursday, the Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said he knows when the next general election will be held but added that he could not reveal the date.
"I can’t lie to you that I don’t know when the next general election will be held. I can’t tell you when but I have given enough reminders to all to prepare for the polls," he said.
Hence, journo-blogger Abdul Kadir Jasin can’t help but to question the integrity of both the Election Commission and the PM and asks: Who is lying?
His statement can be read as an indication that the commission is in collusion with the government because only the government or, to be precise, the Prime Minister determines the date of the election.
Abdul Rashid’s statement has the effect of confirming the Bersih movement’s claim that the government parties have an unfair advantage over the oppositions and that the electoral process lacks transparency. [...]
So who is lying? Or to be more palatable, who is not telling the truth – the PM who is still waiting for inspiration or the talkative EC chairman who said he knows the date but will not tell?
So, is the election commission independent and transparent? God knows.
What about "the Commission be established and should operate in a manner that ensures the independent and impartial administration of elections" as written on the website of the Election Commission of Malaysia? God knows.
But one thing for sure, we must continue to show our support towards the BERSIH coalition demanding the Election Commission to be an independent authority, ending its alleged subservience to the ruling coalition, that’s only when the rakyat will be promised of a fair and transparent election.
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I don’t think Rashid is lying. It just shows the unhealthy close relationship between the EC and the government.
Again, it comes to my surprise that so much of hoo-haa can made from just a statement. For those who do not really understand the political structure of Boleh-land, the PM holds the right and final say on when to dissolve the parliament and make way for the general election, and please do not forget that this is applicable to the opposition parties as well if they are managed to form the government.
I do not believe in what God thinks and what God knows. What i know is we need to be more sensible and moderate in our act and thinking. We are responsible for our own thinking, behavior and action.
Ronchester,
No one disputes the fact that PM holds the final say on when to call for election. However, the question at stake is, while the PM says that he has no inspiration, the EC chairman said he knows the GE date.
So, who is not telling the truth? Is it the EC chairman or the PM?
Who cares!
It is more important to figure out who is telling the truth.
SK, i just do not understand why is so much hoo-haa merely on this? If you care so much about whether PM or EC Chairman telling the truth, did you ever asked yourself…anwar, kit siang, jeff ooi, tian chua etc are they telling the truth always?
whats the truth by the way? how do u define the truth? can someone enlighten me…
The title caught my attention. After reading the blog and comments. Sorry to say but, the point is, erm…to prove that PM is lying or, PM is not telling the truth? I’m not with a twist and turn mind, so sorry, but just trying to understand what’s the main point. Is it because there’s contradictory between what the chairman said and what PM said, that’s why we’re here to determine, who’s lying. Oh..think I got it. ;)
What’s the point of guessing the date. when there should be a poll, then surely there will be our chance to elect. Isn’t that what we care about the most? Do the right thing for the next election? :)
This merely shows that EC is not independent and without integrity, hypocrite!
khy, are you referring to yourself as hypocrite?
"When" is not important. We have already been taken for ride for the past 50 years.
More importantly when the time come – Exercise your vote effectively.
My comment is : For past 50 years, Malaysians have been blind. So much of corruption, so racist, and so dictatorial, and so 睁眼说瞎话. … etc .. you name it, they dare to do it. Yet Malaysians continue to vote these idiots in.
Malaysian, if you are complaining please Blame yourself.
Sorry that my comment would be a bit not towards any of the political parties but just an open discussion which I would hope you guys would be opened to talk about. I always wonder, in this era, can the politic be as white as a paper. I mean none of them lie, none of them use any tactics? Which of the parties is able to be 100% perfect and 100% clean? How can you be sure that you never voted "unwanted" in, can you be 100% sure that you see through everything and without bias? Condemnation can make things better? Is it called hypocrite when you have your beliefs which "non-hypocrite" don’t believe in?
So many questions popped up when I read through the posts and comments. Tried to clear my mind and find out the answers.