Arif Shah breaks law by employing "intelligent agents"

Press Release

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) demands the police to immediately initiate investigation against the Barisan Nasioanl candidate in Permatang Pauh by-election, Arif Shah Omar Shah for breaking the Election Offences Act 1954 of making illegal employment by paying "intelligent fees" to voters. If convicted, Arif Shah shall be fined RM 5000 and disqualified from voting and being elected.

As reported by the Chinese language daily Sin Chew Jit Poh in its frontpage headline on August 22 2008, "Arif Shah: employ locals as campaign workers; BN PAYS "INTELLIGENT FESS" NOT BUYING VOTES", Arif Shah Omar Shah has openly admitted that the Barisan Nasional has been giving away RM 100 to RM 500 for "a great number" of locals to function as "campaign workers" and "covert intelligent agents" but denied that this was not vote-buying.

BERSIH slams the BN candidate for lying as Section 21 of the Election Offences Act 1954 ("Certain Employment to be Illegal") categorically prohibits employment of anyone "for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of a candidate at any election" except one election agent, one polling agent per polling station and "a reasonable number of clerks and messengers having regard to the area of the constituency" and "the number of electors on the register or list of electors for such constituency".

Given his own admission of the illegal practice, the police must immediately investigate the illegal employment. If convicted, under Section 27 of the same Act, Arif Shah will be fine RM 5000 and "become incapable of being registered or listed as an elector or of voting at any election under this Act or of being elected at any election, and if at that date he has been elected at any election, his seat shall be vacated from the date of such conviction". As the candidate's qualification is now in question, the police must act swiftly to enable the voters of Permatang Pauh to form their informed decision.

BERSIH also calls upon the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate if such illegal employments, which may incur great expense, is funded by any illegal means.



BERSIH: Arif Shah Langgar Undang-undang Ambil “Agen Risikan” Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH) mendesak pihak polis dengan serta-merta mengusahakan siasatan terhadap calon Barisan Nasional di pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pauh, Arif Shah Omar Shah kerana melanggar Akta Kesalahan Undang-undang 1954 kerana mengambil pekerja haram dengan mengupah “bayaran pakar” kepada para pengundi.

Sekiranya didapati bersalah, Arif Shah boleh dikenakan denda RM5000 dan ditolak keyakan daripada mengundi dan dipilih. Seperti yang dilaporkan di tajuk utama muka hadapan akhbar berbahasa cina Sin Chew Jit Poh bertarikh 22 Ogos 2008 yang diterjemahkan sebagai “ Arif Shah: mengambil pekerja kempen: BN BAYAR “UPAH PAKAR” BUKAN BELI UNDI”, Arif Shah secara terbuka mengakui Barisan Nasional telah membayar RM100 hingga RM500 untuk sejumlah pekerja yang ramai berfungsi sebagai “pekerja-pekerja kempen” dan “menyelindung agen risikan” tetapi menafikan ia bukanlah tindakan untuk membeli undi.

BERSIH mengecam calon BN kerana memutarbelitkan Seksyen 21 Akta Kesalahan Pilihanraya 1954 (“Pengambilan Pekerja Haram”) secara kategori menghalang pengambilan mana-mana “bertujuan untuk memperkembangkan calon pilihanraya” kecuali seorang agen pilihanraya, seorang agen pengundian setiap pusat pengundian dan “beberapa orang kerani dan kerani perutusan di dalam kawasan pilihanraya” dan beberapa pengundi yang disenaraikan di dalam senarai pemilih di kawasan pilihanraya tersebut”.

Berdasarkan kepada tindakan beliau yang menyalahi undang-undang, pihak polis mestilah serta-merta menyiasat pengambil pekerja secara haram ini sekiranya bersalah di bawah Seksyen 27 akta yang sama, Arif Shah akan dikenakan undi RM5000 dan “ menjadi tidak berkeupayaan dipilih dalam mana-mana pilihanraya, dan sekiranya beliau telah dipilih dalam mana-mana pilihanraya, kerusinya perlulah dikosongkan berkuatkuasa dari tarikh jatuh hukuman”.

Memandangkan kelayakan calon kini dipersoalkan, pihak polis mestilah bertindak pantas bagi membenarkan pengundi-pengundi di Permatang Pauh bagi membuat keputusan.

BERSIH juga mendesak agar Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) untuk menyiasat pengambilan pekerja yang mungkin melibatkan perbelanjaan yang tinggi, dan dibiayai oleh cara-cara haram.

Labels: BERSIH, permatang pauh

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 8/25/2008 11:02:00 pm ...