OPPOSITION HAS NO CHANCE OF WINNING SEATS IF ELECTION IS UNFAIR - M'SIAN EC

BANGKOK, July 1 (Bernama) - The opposition in Malaysia has no chance of
winning seats if the Election Commission (EC) is unfair and transparent in
conducting elections in Malaysia.

EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said all general elections and
by-elections would have been won by (the ruling government) Barisan Nasional
(BN-National Front)) if that was the case.

"If EC is unfair and transparent, how did the opposition win five states at
the last general election....or it has to win all the states, only then EC is
fair and transparent," he said in an interview with Bernama and TV3 here Friday.

He is here as an international observer at the invitation of the Election
Commission of Thailand to monitor the general election here on Sunday.

Malaysia is among 13 countries invited to witness the Thai general election.

Aziz said victory or defeat of political parties or candidates depends on
the situation and not because of EC's help or not.

"In Malaysia, the party or candidate will win if the voters like him. We can
do anything but it will not change the situation."

He said it is common in any country including Malaysia, for the losing party
to make the election operator as the target.

"When the (party or candidate) lose, it does not mean that EC is unfair.
Sometimes BN won and sometimes the opposition won.

"In the last 16 by-elections, BN won eight seats while the opposition also
won eight seats.

"In Sarawak state election, BN ended up with less seats. Does that mean EC
is unfair and not transparent?," he asked.

Aziz said EC has done a good job in conducting 12 general elections and
hundreds of by-elections.

Equating EC as the football referee, he said the losing team will always
claim that the referee was unfair.

On the illegal rally on July 9, he said it is to signal that EC has been
unfair and dictated by the ruling party.

"If that is the case, EC will not be invited as an international observer
for Thailand's general election."

Aziz said international observers from 12 countries did not even ask him
about the planned illegal rally.

"This is because they recognise EC as a body that conduct elections and are
confident that elections in Malaysia are transparent and free," he added.
--BERNAMA