SARAWAK CHAPTER TRAINING

Date: 17 December 2012

各位朋友，Dear Friends,

诗巫选举观察团（SEW）诚心邀请你及你的团体选派3 至5人，来参加一项选举观察训练会。训练会的宗旨在于为志愿观察员提供正当选举的知识。SEW同Mafrel（马来西亚自由与公平选举）有意在来临的第13届国选中在诗巫进行观察活动。

Sibu Election Watchers (SEW) has the pleasure to invite you and your group to nominate 3-5 persons for a training workshop on election observation. The objective of the training is to equip voluntary observer with knowledge on election proper. SEW in collaboration with Malaysia for Free and Fair Election (Mafrel) intent to conduct observation at the fort coming 13^th Parliamentary Election in Sibu areas.

训练会定于2013年正月19日（星期六）晚上7时到9时（包括茶点），假京城酒店二楼会议室举行，入场免费。训练会内容如下：

1.      简介Mafrel及其选举观察员的任务。

2.      什么是自由与公平选举？

3.      选举流程。

4.      选举违规事件。

5.      如何推行选举观察使命 – 观察表格。

6.      收集观察表格与资料。

7.      分派工作。

8.      问答时间。

The workshop is fixed on 19^th January 2013 at the Premier Hotel Conference Room (2^nd Floor) from 7pm to 10pm with tea break. The admission is free and the contents of the workshop include the followings:

1.   Introduction to MAFREL & its Role as Election Observer

2.   What is Free and Fair Elections? 

3.   Election Cycle

4.   Election Offences

5.   How to conduct an Election Observation Mission – Observation Forms

6.   Collection of Observation Forms and Materials

7.   Deployment – Sibu & Sarawak State

8.  Q & A Session

 

 

 

 

 

恭祝圣诞快乐，新年蒙恩！Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

Sincerely,

 

Wong  Meng Chuo 黄孟祚

Coordinator, SEW诗巫选举观察团联络员

11D, Bruang Road, Sibu

Email:mchuo@yahoo.com

Hp: 016 3471853

 

附报名表格，并请与正月12日前交来。

Attached is the nominations form, please submit on or before 12^th January 2013.

—————————————————————————————————————

诗巫选举观察训练会报名表格

Nomination Form for participant of Sibu Election Watch Training Workshop

 

Name:                                                        Email                                                    phone                      

 

1_______________________________________________________________________

 

 

2.______________________________________________________________________

 

 

3.______________________________________________________________________

 

 

4.______________________________________________________________________

 

 

5.______________________________________________________________________

 

 

填表人：                                                  Email                                             电话/phone

Submitted by:

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

签名Signature：

 

 

日期Date：

UPDATING MAFREL OBSERVERS' DATA

MAFREL N SEMBILAN

MAFREL

N SEMBILAN CHAPTER

TRAINING FOR OBSERVERS

DATE : SUNDAY 14/10/12

VENUE:

The venue for the training will be at IKRAM Negeri Sembilan office: No. 90-2, Jalan Taman Komersial Senawang 4, Taman Komersial Senawang, 70400 SEREMBAN.

 The office is at 2nd floor on top of Azhar Maju restaurant, the same row as MAYBANK Senawang (Maybank is next to McD and McD is next to GIANT Senawang).

9.00 AM REGISTRATION

10.00am Welcoming Speech by Negri Sembilan State Coordinator

10.10am Training start with MAFREL Deputy Chairman& Team :

1. Introduction to MAFREL& its Function

2. What is Free and Fair Elections?

3. Election Cycle

4. Election Offences

5. How to conduct an election observation mission

6. Deployment – Negri Sembilan

12.30pm Q & A Session

http://www.facebook.com/MAFREL.Official

 

Gambar kenangan selepas taklimat di Melaka.

Gambar petikan dari Album Sdr Aris Sipan, Kordinator MAFREL Melaka

MAFREL - MELAKA CHAPTER

BRIEFING AND TRAINING - SAT 22/9/12

MAFREL COMMITTEE MEETING - 10 SEPT 2012

MAFREL COMMITTEE MEETING 27/08/2012

MAFREL's Exco meeting 12/8/12

We welcome 3 newcomers at the meeting: Rick, Vivien and Aizat

Abim upset by 'arbitrary' selection of polls observers

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/202104

 

Abim upset by 'arbitrary' selection of polls observers

Jonathan Yong 8:22AM Jun 28, 2012

Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) has expressed dissatisfaction with the "arbitrary" nature of the selection of election observers by the Election Commission (EC).

The five groups accredited by the EC as poll observers do not appear to have much background in electoral monitoring, Abim president Amidi Abdul Manan told Malaysiakini.

"What are the criteria by which these non-governmental organisations were chosen? Was it based on experience, connections or prestige?" Amidi asked.

In the interest of transparency, he said, the EC should clarify the criteria it used to appoint the five NGOs.

The five are think-tanks Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) and Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), graft watchdog Transparency International-Malaysia, human rights body Association for Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) and independent pollster Merdeka Centre.

Amidi said Abim had applied to be election observer back in April, but the EC had yet to reply.

He said unlike the five NGOs the EC has picked, Abim had some experience in observing elections, noting that his group had teamed up on this with elections monitor Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) during the 1999 general election.

"We are committed to the cause of Bersih, and want to contribute towards free and fair elections in Malaysia," he said in explaining his organisation's desire to be accredited as an election observer.

EC rapped for conditions imposed

Amidi also criticised the conditions EC has imposed on its accredited observers, which include a gag order preventing them from talking to the media during the electoral campaign period.

"These conditions are not in accordance with international norms," he said.

It is understood that another condition is for the EC to vet reports by the NGOs before these are released to the public.

Although Abim will not be an accredited observer, Amidi said, it would be willing to aid the five NGOs through its extensive grassroots network in data collection.

Abim will also be giving training to election volunteers to help them spot electoral irregularities.

The NGO is not the only group that is peeved with the EC's choice of accredited election observers.

Mafrel, which was snubbed by the EC despite having international election observer experience, has also disparaged the selection of the five NGOs.

It ticked off the EC yesterday for picking the less-experienced organisations in order to create the illusion of transparency.

Mafrel: EC using NGOs to fake transparency

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/201992

 

Jonathan Yong 9:21AM Jun 27, 2012

Veteran polls watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) has accused the Election Commission (EC) of selecting untested NGOs as election observers as a means of creating an illusion of transparency.

Mafrel chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (left) pointed out that of the five NGOs chosen by the EC to observe the 13th general election, none have expertise or experience in observing elections.

"Some of the NGOs, like Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) or Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) focus more on the theoretical aspect of elections than work on the ground.

"Maybe that is why the EC nominated them and not us," said Syed Ibrahim, whose group was once accredited by the EC to observe several by-elections and have participated in numerous international election observation missions.

The three other NGOs that will be accredited are independent pollsters Merdeka Centre, think-tank Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (Asli) and human rights watchdog Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham).

Syed Ibrahim also warned the selected NGOs to be wary of the motive and agenda behind the EC's invitation, saying that the EC only wants to create an illusion of transparency to counter claims made by election reform pressure group Bersih 2.0.

According to the New Straits Times, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had claimed that Mafrel was excluded on the grounds that they are biased and pro-opposition.

"Everyone may have their own political inclinations, but that doesn't mean we don't conduct ethical monitoring in line with international standards," said Syed Ibrahim, when told of Abdul Aziz's remarks.

Against international norms
Syed Ibrahim added that if the EC was sincere about having election observers, they would not have put restrictions on the NGOs and should have allocated a budget for the monitoring efforts.

"The conditions set are definitely not in line with international norms, where the basic principle is for the bodies to be independent and able to publish their own reports, not gagged throughout the election campaign," he pointed out.

Abdul Aziz had said that the accredited observers will not be allowed to speak to the media throughout the election campaign.

It is also understood that the reports by the NGOs will be vetted by the EC before they are made public.

One group with the expertise and experience in international election observation missions - the National Institute for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (NIEI) - has declined EC's invitation to be accredited as an official election observer.

The group said that it did so because it opposes the conditions the EC has imposed on poll monitors.

 

CALLING FOR PRU13 MAFREL VOLUNTEER OBSERVERS

MAFREL 19/5/2012 PROGRAMME UPDATE

VOLUTEERS TRAINING SESSION SAT 19/5/2012

Date and Time: Sat 19 May, 2012,  2-6pm
Place: UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus (North Wing)
Lot 12734, Jalan Choo Lip Kung,
Taman Taynton View, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

To register, please contact
Rick Lye

rick@jvnetresources.com

Other information:
Hon Secretary:
Arphan:

arphanahmad@hotmail.com

Webmaster:
 mymafrel@gmail.com

http://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?msid=212145221004704517776.0004b0ce248883f020a2b&msa=0&ll=3.082966,101.738334&spn=0.022755,0.041842

View CEO TRAINING in a larger map
PLEASE GET YOURSELF UPDATED HERE:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/159160153939/

MAFREL FACEBOOK PAGE

MAFREL PERAK : TAKLIMAT

MAFREL Perak Chapter is also arranging a taklimat/briefing session for new volunteers for PRU13 on Sunday 22nd. April, 2012 beginning from 9.00 am.
Venue Perak IKRAM Office, Ipoh. 
For more detail contact IR Megat Shariffudin Ibrahim at 012 5222664 or by email at irmegatsibrahim@gmail.com

MAFREL PRU13 OBSERVERS BRIEFING - SELANGOR/WP

MAFREL OBSERVERS BRIEFING - SELANGOR/WP

TAKLIMAT MAFREL

PESERTA: PEMERHATI SUKARELAWAN PRU13
KAWASAN SELANGOR/WP DAN KAWASAN SEKITAR
(Pemerhati yang mengundi di tempat lain, tetapi menetap di Selangor/WP boleh menyertainya)

TARIKH: SABTU 21 APRIL 2012

WAKTU: 9.00AM – 1.00PM

TEMPAT: DEWAN KLANG JAYA (MPK), JALAN SELAMPIT 26, TAMAN KLANG JAYA, 41200 KLANG

TUAN/PUAN DIJEMPUT MENGHADIRINYA

UNTUK TUJUAN URUSAN PERSEDIAAN, SILA HUBUNGI KAMI UNTUK MENGESAHKAN KEHADIRAN
UNTUK MAKLUMAT, SILA HUBUNGI:

Abdul Latif Adlin
MAFREL Selangor

Email: aladlin@yahoo.com

MAFREL  Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mafrel/272242692815334

MAFREL Yahoo Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MAFREL/

MAFREL Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/159160153939/

MAFREL Blogs:
http://mymafrel.blogspot.com/
http://mafrel.blogspot.com/

View Dewan Taman Klang Jaya in a larger map

MAFREL YAHOO GROUP

PICTURES

Reps from MCD, MAFREL, SPR and JKM for the Dialogue

Reps from Malaysia - MCD, MAFREL, SPR and JKM on 2nd day of Dialogue

Speakers & Presentors of AGENDA Dialogue after officiating

Election simulation for 'PWD'

Workshop - Hasnah with Cambodian Disabled People's Organization Ngin Saorath (Ex Dir) & Channtey Heng (Snr Program Officer)

Yu Ya Thu; Operation Manager of Mynmar Independent Living Initiative

AGENDA's program

Braille ballot paper for the blinds

PWD put her casted ballot paper into ballot box

AGENDA - Activity Report

Activity Report

There are 2 program held by AGENDA to promote elections access for PWD (persons with disabilities) :

1)    Capacity Building Workshop (Jan 30 & 31, 2012)

2)    Regional Dialogue on Access to Elections for Persons with Disabilities (Feb 1 & 2, 2012)

Capacity Building Workshop

(Jan 30 & 31, 2012) Jakarta

The workshop basically aimed at providing technical information on AGENDA’s sub-award system and requirements. Participants consist of DPOs and CSOs from 7 ASEAN countries (with exception of Thailand, Laos, Brunei Darus-salam and Singapore). Workshop focused more on DPOs. MAFREL as the CSO provide on election processes. 

Malaysia is represented by both DPO (MCD) and CSO (MAFREL) – Bathmavathy Krishnan (Secretary) and Adam Malek Miskun of MCD. Hasnah Hashim represented MAFREL.

The topics covered during the 2-days’ workshop were :

a)    AGENDA General Overview

b)    Accessible Election

c)    Monitoring the Accessible Election

d)    Sub-awards

e)    Reporting

f)     Performance Management Plan (PMP)

g)    Finance

h)    Advocacy towards Election Management Bodies (EMB) – SPR

i)     Research

j)     General Election Overview

k)    Index

l)     Coordination mechanism – information for website and index

m)  Coordination on the election monitoring activity (participants = Malaysia, Cambodia & Timor Leste)

Participant  Conclusion :

1.    AGENDA add a significant insight into special voters’ (disabled) rights. This is could be one of MAFREL’s way forward agenda; considering PWDs is averaged at 15% from total population – many may not register as voters or able to cast votes due to inaccessibility issues.

2.    AGENDA aim = access to PWDs to be able to cast their votes, not whether the election is free and fair. Eg. Polling Day = project’s observation only focus on polling process (exclude counting & tallying processes).

3.    AGENDA promote PWDs voters to cast their own votes; not assisted by non-PWDs.

4.    AGENDA program on Voter Education for PWDs complements MAFREL’s.

5.    The deliverables (reports-weekly, quarterly, financial & activity) are more stringent compared to other international funders experienced by MAFREL.

Regional Dialogue on Access to Elections for Persons with Disabilities

(Feb 1 & 2, 2012) Jakarta

The conference aimed at promoting PWDs rights to participate in political process of their countries.

Participants consist of DPOs and CSOs from all ASEAN countries (except Singapore). UN-ESCAP, ASEAN, Australia, South Korea, Japan, IFES, NDI were invited as speakers.

Malaysia is represented by DPO, CSO, EMB and related government agency :

a)    MCD – Bathmavathy Krishnan (Secretary) & Adam Malek Miskun

b)    MAFREL – Col (R) Sahahrudin Othman & Hasnah Hashim

c)    SPR – Mohamad Mahmud (Kelantan State Election Director)

d)    Department of Social Welfare Malaysia – Pathmanathan R Nalasamy (Principal Assistant Director of Department for Development of PWDs)

The topics covered during the 2-days’dialogue were :

a)    Why the disability community needs to talk about rights 

b)    CRPD – the challenge of implementing electoral rights ‘A discussion on Article 29’

c)    Access to Election – learning from best practices in the Southeast Asia Region ‘Article 29 in practice’

d)    Voter Education

e)    Electoral laws and disability

f)     Engagement with wider human rights community

g)    Experiencing an accessible election (+ election simulation)

h)    Bali Declaration – Ensuring the Right to Political Participation is addressed in the ASEAN Communities Framework

i)     The essential role of EMBs in facilitating elections that are accessible to persons with disabilities

j)     Assistive technology (and other tools) to promote accessible elections

k)    Disabilities and elections in Southeast Asia Region – an evolving concept and the way forward

l)     Learning Together – Reviewing and Refining Disability Access Monitoring Tools

Participants’  Conclusion :

1.    SPR does not provide access for PWDs to cast votes on their own, rather to use family members and assistants to cast their votes for them.

2.    SPR/ Malaysia still have a long way to go to provide election access for PWDs.