KUCHING: The Election Commission seems to withhold the release of the score sheets to election candidates who request for them, says Edward Luwat of Serian Democratic Action Party (DAP).
“I was a candidate in the Serian Parliamentary Constituency. Shortly after the election, I went to the office of the Returning Officer for P199 Serian who happened to be the District Officer. I was told that the office of the Returning Officer could not print out the score sheet as all “pen-drives” and “soft copies” of election documents had been sent to the State Election Office in Kuching.
“I went to the State Election Commission office at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar, Simpang Tiga, Kuching. There, I was told by the staff that the State Election Commission office could not issue the “score sheet” as all election documents had been sent to the Election Commission headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. At the help desk was a notice stating that score sheets were unavailable.
“I was advised to obtain the “score sheet” from the Election Commission headquarters at the Federal Territory ofPutra Jaya,” he said.
The “score sheets”, Edward said, should be issued upon request to contesting candidates. “Candidates are willing to pay for the printing of the “score sheets”- just like they are willing to pay for the electoral rolls,” he added.
He wondered why the “score sheets” were treated as “confidential documents”.
“There is no section in the Conduct of Election Act and Regulations that require the Election Commission to withhold the issuance of these documents,” he pointed out.
“There seems to be serious flaws in the conduct of the election in Serian. Many statutory procedures were not adhered to. We need to confirm our suspicion with the official record at the Election Commission.
“If there are serious flaws, a by-election may be required. For this, we leave it to the Election Court to decide.
“We need to do the verification before making the next move related to the election in the Serian Parliamentary Constituency.
“It is hoped that the Election Commission takes serious view on the matter.,” added Edward.
