GE15: Bersih demands EC to extend campaign period to 21 days

SHAH ALAM - The Election Commission (EC) has been urged to extend the campaign period for the 15th General Election (GE15) to 21 days to ensure that overseas postal votes could be received on the polling day.

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) in a statement on Thursday said the matter was one of the five main focuses of the “Voter Supremacy” campaign it conducted.

It said it was appropriate for the EC to set a minimum campaign period of 21 days to ensure that the rights of postal voters abroad were not waived.

"Another demand is to immediately separate the role of the Public Prosecutor from the Attorney-General which is a political appointment to ensure that there is no issue of selective prosecution.

"In addition, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also needs to be reformed so that it becomes an independent body and not used as a weapon against political opponents by certain parties," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Bersih also called on the approximately 21 million eligible voters to make the most of the opportunity to elect a government capable of leading the country towards a better direction.

It said although many rejected GE15 to be held in the near future due to concerns of floods, caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob still announced the dissolution of Parliament.

The situation would definitely burden the people, especially those who live in areas that were prone to floods.

"As citizens, we must reject the attempts made by some politicians to manipulate, demoralise and divide us by using our rights as voters.

"The most effective and decisive way is through the ballot box. The people are the real kingmakers during elections," it said in the statement.