Saturday May 11, 2013

GE13: Undergrads protest against alleged election irregularities

PUTRAJAYA: A group of undergraduates protested against what they claimed were irregularities in the 13th general election.

Led by Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), the protesters clad in black converged at the gate leading to the Election Commission headquarters after Friday prayers carrying placards and cardboard coffins spray-painted with the words “Demokrasi” and “SPR”.

The group had attempted to gain entry to the Parcel C Government complex by marching to the main gate.

However, they eventually sent student leaders Adam Adli and Safwan Anang as representatives to hand over a seven-page memorandum to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof.

The protesters braved the afternoon heat, chanting slogans at the complex gates, which were sealed off to the public in view of the protest.

Safwan told reporters that the group wanted the EC to respond to the demands outlined in the memorandum, which included calls for the appointment of new EC officials.

Undergraduates carrying mock coffins at the EC headquarters in Putrajaya.

“We want the current officials to be removed and replaced with officials who are honest and with integrity as the EC is clearly biased,” he claimed.

The memorandum also called for fresh elections to be held and overseen by new EC officials as SMM claimed the new Government did not have the mandate from the majority of voters.

“We give the EC one week to respond to the memorandum. By next Friday, if we do not get anything from the EC, we will hit the streets on Saturday. We may march to Istana Negara,” Safwan added.

Also present was Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia chief and PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegubard.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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