Published: Tuesday March 19, 2013 MYT 11:05:00 AM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 10:12:20 PM

GE13: BN and PR leaders urged to condemn political violence

By WONG PEK MEI


PETALING JAYA: Leaders of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have been urged to condemn political violence and that the electorate demand the “highest level of integrity and conduct” from them.

Bersih 2.0 steering committee co-chairperson Datuk S. Ambiga said the series of incidents of intimidation and threats, including recent attacks on PKR vice-president Tian Chua at ceramah, must stop.

"Political violence is a symptom of dirty elections as well as an election that is not free and fair.

"We are hearing about it every week. So, we are very concern about it as this is already happening before the coming general election,” she said during a Proham book launch on Monday.

Ambiga urged the electorate to reject candidates who are associated with political violence. She said a campaign would be launched next week on political violence and a code of conduct for election candidates.

On electoral observers, Ambiga said 10,000 volunteers are needed to assist in observing the general election. The prganisation only has about 1,000 volunteers currently.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who was also at the event, urged civil societies to focus on the 30% of the electorate who are fence-sitters.

“This is an opportunity for civil society to invest in the 30% that can make a difference in voting for candidates that they think deserve to be sent to Parliament,” he said.

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