Day: May 8, 2016

Explain leap in voter turnout, Bersih 2.0 tells EC

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

MMO file pic

MMO file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Bersih 2.0 wants the Election Commission (EC) to explain the sharp rise in voter turnout at the Sarawak elections yesterday, noting that it had gone from 52 per cent at 4pm to the final 70.1 per cent when polling closed at 5pm.

The polls watchdog’s chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said the EC should respond to the odd jump, according to Malaysiakini.

“There is a big discrepancy here – it was not (just) a five to six per cent jump,” she was quoted saying in the news portal.

As at 4pm yesterday, voter turnout of the 11th state election looked abnormally low with reports from EC stating that just 52 per cent of those eligible to cast their ballots in the 80 seats contested had turned up.

At that point, it was believed that the figure would be the lowest recorded in the state. Read more →

EAIC says recommended punishments not always followed

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

EAIC chief Datuk Yaacob Md Sam — Picture by Mohd Yusof Mat Isa

EAIC chief Datuk Yaacob Md Sam — Picture by Mohd Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) has complained that although no disciplinary body has ever challenged its recommendations for disciplinary action, there were times when rogue officers facing punishment were let off with a mere slap on the wrist.

EAIC chief Datuk Yaacob Md Sam said the oversight commission typically leaves it to the disciplinary boards to exercise their discretion in meting out the appropriate punishment after taking into account the mitigating factors — which the EAIC itself has no benefit of hearing.

“The only thing we are concerned about is that too lenient punishment is sometimes being imposed,” he was quoted as saying in an interview by local daily The Star.

“For example, when we have recommended a six-month suspension of the officer’s emolument (salary and allowances) — which will affect your seniority, be recorded in your file and affect your chances for a promotion — they come back and say they are only cautioning the officer!” he said, adding that such overly-lenient punishments would not serve as a deterrent to other officers.

Noting the EAIC members’ concern over such lenient punishments that “differ too far from the Commission’s recommendation”, Yaacob said they had in March written to the Chief Secretary of the Government to express their displeasure. Read more →