Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir is the latest to break ranks, and makes several startling remarks about the elections in Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR: In an unprecedented move, a former Umno minister implicitly stated that the electoral process here is not free and fair, and that Bersih 2.0′s demands are fundamental.
Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir’s bold remark was in stark contradiction with that of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement this morning that Barisan Nasional never cheated in the polls.
“The government knows whether elections are clean or not. The people know whether the elections are clean or not,” Kadir said, leaving his audience to read between the lines.
He also pointed out that voters now were more educated and aware of the ruling party’s attempt to cling on to power by putting a “yes man” in charge of the Election Commission.
“Cannot lah like this,” he said, drawing laughter from those present.
Kadir, who was tourism minister during the Mahathir administration, was speaking at the launch of the Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah) here today.
Reminding the government that it was duty-bound to uphold free and fair elections, the former MP suggested that the powers-that-be engage Bersih 2.0, which had been declared illegal.
“A free and fair election is very fundamental.Why can’t we engage them (Bersih 2.0)?” added the deputy president of Amanah.
Harsh response ignites anger
Kadir said the founding fathers had ensured that elections in this country were free and fair, with former premiers like Tunku Abdul Rahman and Najib’s father, Tun Abdul Razak, “making sure that a level playing field was given to all contesting.”
However, the former minister did not include his ex-boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the list. The latter’s 22-year tenure was said to be replete with electoral fraud.
Amanah is an NGO set up by respected Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah aimed at rekindling the constitutional spirit propounded by Abdul Rahman and Abdul Razak.
Razaleigh was also one of the Umno leaders critical of the Najib administration’s reaction to Bersih 2.0 and backed its demand for electoral reform.
Meanwhile, Kadir said the government’s harsh responses, similar to its handling of the Bersih 2.0 issue, ignited public anger and led to loss of support.
He also welcomed the proposal that the EC include civil societies and opposition lawmakers in its committee as check and balance.
