Suaram : uphold will of the people
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 10, 2008

As euphoric as the opposition parties must to have denied Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority for the first time in 39 years, the victory must prompt its elected representatives to work hard for a better nation.
MCPX

The reminder came from human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), which also told them “to uphold the will of the people (which includes) rejecting racialised politics and racism”.

“Stamp out corruption and respect economic, social and cultural rights,” said executive director Yap Swee Seng in a statement today.

He, however, noted that the conduct of elections is still far from being clean and fair.

“Election watchdogs have documented various (forms of) electoral fraud and irregularities ranging from allegations of rigged electoral rolls and ‘phantom’ voters to unfair media access and outright vote buying on polling day,” he said.

Suggesting that a royal commission be set up to restore free and fair elections, he urged elected representatives from opposition parties to work for reform of the election system and assured them of backing from Suaram and other civil society groups.

Suaram also listed several demands:
•    Respect and protect the freedom of expression, assembly and association
•    Set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission
•    Uphold the independence of the judiciary
•    End the New Economic Policy
•    Uphold press freedom
•    Ensure gender equality
•    Protect the environment

The Barisan Nasional (BN) was mauled in Saturday's elections, losing its crucial two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since 1969.

Four states were lost to the resurgent opposition, while PAS increased its grip over Kelantan which it has ruled since 1990.

Analysts said that voters punished the BN for rising inflation and its mishandling of race relations.

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