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Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar was quoted recently in the media as saying,’Why, they (Pakatan Rakyat) are still not registered puzzles me’.

I am puzzled that an EC deputy chairperson does not know that the rules of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) say that you need at least seven components to register a coalition.

In short, to register as a political coalition, Pakatan needs to have at least seven parties in its fold, and if Wan Ahmad does not know this, then what is he doing in the Election Commission and as a deputy chairperson no less?

It would be excusable if a taxi driver or a pizza delivery boy (no disrespect to these professions) did not know this regulation but it is totally unacceptable for a deputy chairperson of a body that oversees the electoral process.

If the deputy chairperson is aware of this requirement and still makes such pronouncements, it is even worse as it would mean that he is glaringly partisan.

Incredibly after making such pronouncements, Wan Ahmad expects us to have confidence that ‘the EC would strive to address all doubts over the postal voting process’.

While he tries to imply campaign restrictions on PAS partners DAP and PKR, he is extremely silent on the MSP (Makkal Sakhti Party).

Leaders of the new MSP party have already pledged to campaign for BN in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was the VIP guest at the party’s launch (Oct 10) which received recognition from the Registrar of Societies in a ‘matter of weeks’ on May 11, 2009.

This is nothing new as in the Permatang Pauh by-election, S Nallakaruppan's MIUP (Malaysian Indians United Party) also received a speedy approval and was happily campaigning for BN.

I want to ask Wan Farid if he knows that MSP is not a party formally registered under the BN coalition, or is he going to plead ignorance to that as well? Actions speak louder than words.

The EC can walk the talk or forever stop boring us with declarations that it is neutral and non- partisan.

Which brings us to the existing regulation. What is the rationale of needing seven parties to form a coalition? Isn't it time this law is reviewed? Obviously this ROS regulation is stifling. One can ask why not six?

Or, for that matter why not eight? Or were the drafters of that regulation inspired by the seven colours of the rainbow? In my opinion it should be changed to accommodate two because obviously you cannot have a coalition of one unless you are Hishamuddin Rais who declares that he is a non-governmental individual.

Luckily, the ROS did not demand that he register.

Back to my suggestion of allowing two parties to register as a coalition. The rationale besides the obvious of two being the lowest denominator, is that it will also conform in spirit to Article 10 of the federal constitution on freedom of association.

There are already too many laws, ordinances and acts that run counter to the spirit of the constitution but that is another story for another day.

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