Prevent Crimes Against Democracy

KOMPAS/KRIS RAZIANTO MADA

Malaysian police are on guard near an empty store in the Kajang Main Park area, Malaysia, Friday (12/4/2019). Several bags containing pre-marked ballots in favor of a certain presidential candidate in the Indonesian presidential election were found at the location.

The General Elections Commission (KPU), General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the National Police must resolve the alleged vote-rigging case uncovered at a shophouse in Selangor, Malaysia.

A video regarding the case has been widely shared on social media. The video shows two women who calmly hold up ballots, mark the ballots and put them in envelopes. There are also bags claimed to contain marked ballots and a number of other people who were recorded in the video.

Social media is getting noisy. Boisterous group conversations through WhatsApp have emerged. Speculation has arisen, including allegations of fraud. The case in Selangor has the potential to delegitimize the KPU and the quality of the election.

We hope the KPU and Bawaslu will clarify what happened in Selangor. The public needs a clear explanation of the incident. The background and role of the actors involved in the viral video must be investigated. If there is a crime committed, the perpetrators must be prosecuted. The incident in Selangor is a crime against democracy.

The people are tired of political games in the campaigns that are so long and energy consuming. The event in Selangor, if it is not resolved, can lead to poor public perception of the ongoing political process. The public must also wait patiently for the authorities to do their job. However, the KPU and Bawaslu must move quickly to conduct their investigation, announce the results to the public and provide the KPU recommendations on what should be done. The national elections on April 17 should not be damaged only because of the case in Selangor.

KOMPAS/KRIS RAZIANTO MADA

Malaysian police are on guard near an empty store in the Kajang Main Park area, Malaysia, Friday (12/4/2019). Several bags containing pre-marked ballots in favor of a certain presidential candidate in the Indonesian presidential election were found at the location.

That KPU, Malaysia\'s Overseas Election Committee, Malaysian Panwaslu (Election Supervisory Committee) must tidy up the working mechanism and secure ballots abroad. Why are the ballots – if they are official from the KPU -- be stored in the shophouse? All irregularities must be fully opened to answer public doubts about the quality of the election. If indeed there is negligence from the committee, sanctions must be given. If indeed there are people who vote without the right to, that is an election crime. Information that states that there is vote trading in Malaysia has also been heard. The background of the event in Selangor must also be revealed.

Those in charge of carrying out the election must show an independent and neutral attitude. They may not work for the benefit of certain contestants. If the committee members, organizers and supervisors are affiliated with a candidate pair or political parties, they have lost their independence. A thorough explanation is needed so that everything behind the Selangor case is clear.