Opposition relying on court of public opinion to highlight electoral fraud

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Aug 6, 2013

The Bersih People’s Tribunal panelists. The tribunal will be one of the avenues for Pakatan Rakyat to voice their electoral fraud claims.

(The Malaysian Insider) – The opposition coalition said this was the path it had to take since its petitions before the court were thrown out even before the merits were heard.

After failing in the court of law, Pakatan Rakyat is turning back to the court of public opinion to press its case on election fraud.

The opposition will present its evidence before two commissions of inquiry and the Bersih People’s Tribunal to expose wrongdoings in the May 5 general election.

The opposition coalition said this was the path it had to take since its petitions before the court were thrown out even before the merits were heard.

Pakatan – comprising PKR, PAS and DAP – and the Barisan Nasional had filed 69 petitions an almost all were dismissed on preliminary objections

Parties were also slapped with heavy costs, an issue that drew concern from lawyers, political parties and interest groups.

An election court awarded RM150,000 after allowing a preliminary objection for the Kuala Berang state seat in Terengganu.

Similarly, the judge presiding over the Pasir Panjang state seat in Perak, ordered the petitioner to pay RM120,000 in costs to three respondents, including the Election Commission (EC).

For the election petition filed for the Balik Pulau federal seat in Penang, another court ordered payment of RM120,000.

PKR political bureau member Sivarasa Rasiah said appealing these case were pointless.

“Our petitions were knocked out on technical grounds and the costs were puniive. It will be a waste of time and money going to the apex court,” he said.

Sivarasa said so far seven petitions filed by PKR were knocked out and the petitioners, whether candidates or voters, were ordered to pay a total of more than RM500,000.