KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 20: UMNO veteran and Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (pic) has lent support to Bersih's eight demands for electoral reforms, saying a clean and fair election was for the good of the people.
“This way, when people go to vote for their candidates they like, they can vote without intimidation and there will be no complaints over the results later,” he said in a recorded interview over the weekend in Simpang Pulai, Gua Musang.
Razaleigh said Bersih's demand for 21 days of campaigning for the general election was reasonable because the current 7 days campaign period was too short and as such the people could not make an informed decision before going to the polls.
“If it’s seven days, it’s not enough, so how can we say it is fair when one side is not allowed to appear on radio and television.
"Hence the demand that all parties are given fair amount of time to give their comments or views on certain matters on television and mainstream media controlled by the government,” added Razaleigh.
Razaleigh said UMNO should should consider all the eight demands made by the electoral reforms coalition.
“I don’t know what their intentions are. I don’t know them personally.
"But it is not like they are for toppling the government,” he said on intense accusation against Bersih in the media.
The former Finance minister also condemned the police action during Bersih's massive rally in the capital on July 9, describing the actions as violation of human rights.
“How can we say we are developed when our mentality is not developed? Control here and control there ... we should not do this. It is against human rights,” he added.
Bersih 2.0, a coalition of more than sixty non-governmental organisations, is calling on the Election Commission for a total reform of the controversial postal votes, the use of indelible ink and a minimum campaign period of 21 days. It also wants an open-minded mainstream and broadcast media, reform of public institutions including the police and Attorney General's Chambers, eradication of corruption and vote buying practices, and a stop to "gutter politics".
http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php/berita-utama/3172-razaleigh-backs-bersihs-demands-condemns-rally-crackdown.html
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