KUCHING: The opposition’s move to get a foreign country to observe Malaysia’s upcoming election has been branded as “desperate”.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this in response to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s attempt to get Australia to influence the election.
“How could someone stoop so low as to seek help from foreigners to meddle in our internal affairs? I hope Pakatan Rakyat supporters could see this and ask themselves that question,” he said yesterday.
He said it was ‘disgusting’ for anyone to beg another country to oversee the running and conduct of elections in Malaysia.
“That only reflects how desperate Anwar and PR are, in wanting to win the election. I wonder how Anwar can claim that elections in Malaysia are not free, when PRU12 (the last general election) saw PR winning many seats and even state governments which are testimonies of a free election.
“What Anwar did are the actions of one who has no love and loyalty to Malaysia,” added Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Housing.
Anwar is reported to have written to Australian Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr to ask for help to ensure the next election, likely to be held early next year, is free of fraud and corruption.
News reports quote Carr as saying that Australia had rejected Anwar’s plea because the country cannot and will not influence Malaysia’s elections.
Carr said the Malaysian elections are a matter for the Malaysian people.
“It’s very hard for Australia to do anything about how they’re run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run.
“We’re not the election authority for Malaysia,” he told ABC Radio.
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