Who decide when there is a vacancy and a by-election?

Something funny is happening: EC kick the ball to the Parliament on whether there is to be a by-election in Batu-the constituency of Tian Chua(PKR) who had been convicted of a police biting charge and fined Rm2000.00-the threshold where the seat should be vacated. Expectably the Parliament’s speaker returned the ball.  What is essentially a legal issue is now turned into a political one! What happen to the constitutionalism and rule of law in the country-the 3rd and 4th item of our Rukun Negara?

• KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
• KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
• KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
• KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
• KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN

Read Full Post »

Najib erred in claiming that 30 day notice of election has not been practiced

Campaign periods 1959-2008

Perdana Menteri	Tahun	Hari Penamaan	Hari Mengundi	Tempoh Kempen
Tunku Abdul Rahman	1959	15 Julai	19 Ogos	35 hari
Tunku Abdul Rahman	1964	21 Mac	25 April	35 hari
Tunku Abdul Rahman	1969	24 Mac	10 Mei	47 hari
Tun Razak Hussain	1974	8 Ogos	24 Ogos	16 hari
Tun Hussein Onn	1978	12 Jun	8 Julai	26 hari
Dr Mahathir Mohamad	1982	7 April	22 April	15 hari
Dr Mahathir Mohamad	1986	24 Julai	3 Ogos	10 hari
Dr Mahathir Mohamad	1990	11 Oktober	21 Oktober	10 hari
Dr Mahathir Mohamad	1995	15 April	25 April	10 hari
Dr Mahathir Mohamad	1999	20 November	29 November	9 hari
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi	2004	13 Mac	21 Mac	8 hari

Abdullah Ahmad Badawai 2008    24Feb            8 Mac        13 hari

The elections after Tun Mahathir started his first term as Prime Minister sawcampaign periods  squeezed to its legal minimum ie 9-10 days. Compare this to the 47 days max(1969) allowed under the 1st Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, and at least 1 month in UK. Many times the opposition and others complained justifiably that the period is too short-but to no avail. Now after Kelantan CM Nik Aziz asked for 3  month notice PM Najib fall back on the Constitution and past practice to refuse the request. However he is only half right: as mentioned above the longest campaign period was 47 days under Tunku. He also allowed 2 elections with 35 days campaign period(1959,1964). In the spirit of democracy and to let people enough time to make up their mind and for all parties and candidates to campaign the appeal for more notice should be considered. So what if the PM insist on using the short period to the incumbent’s advantage? Here is a catch:

Read Full Post »