ANFREL

MABUHAY! @Anfrel and @COMELEC, in partnership with @lente_ph, @Namfrel and @PPCRV_live, are co-hosting the 7th Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-7) in Manila, Philippines from 21 to 23 April 2026. Save the dates! #AESF7 #AESFVII

"#SouthKorea will hold its ninth nationwide simultaneous local #elections on June 3, marking the first nationwide electoral test since President Lee Jae Myung’s snap-election victory last year." koreapro.org/2026/03/south-…

"#Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general and the local government minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said that preparations were under way to hold local government #elections, including city corporation polls, within this year." newagebd.net/post/Elections…

"The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has admitted that its decision on the case of Senator Rodante Marcoleta over the disclosure of campaign contributions may affect future #elections." #Philippines inquirer.net/470625/comelec…

"With voting rights come the same legal obligations that apply to citizens. #Election laws in #SouthKorea impose strict limits on campaigning, political donations and election-related activities, with violations subject to penalties." koreaherald.com/article/106972…

"The Government is keen to hold the Provincial Council #elections soon and will expedite the work of the Select Committee of Parliament appointed to look into and report on selecting an electoral system for the PCs, Minister Vijitha Herath said." sundaytimes.lk/online/news-on…

"The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced the finalised question for the public referendum on the proposed eight amendment to the Constitution, on whether to hold parliamentary and presidential elections together." #Maldives plus.mv/english/ecm-an…

Ambang batas parlemen kerap dianggap jalan pintas menyederhanakan sistem kepartaian. Padahal, penyederhanaan tak hanya soal jumlah partai, tapi juga sebaran kekuatan kursi di parlemen. Selengkapnya di rumahpemilu.or.id/bagaimana-seha…

Buletin PRLDM hadir!🥳 Pemilu bukan sekadar prosedur 5 tahunan, tapi fondasi kualitas demokrasi. Regulasi adil, penyelenggara independen, dan peserta berintegritas = demokrasi yang representatif. Unduh gratis di perludem.or.id 😉

➡️Joint Press Statement by @TransparencyMV @mmwmaldives ,Bharat Club, @SaveMaldivesMV and @mtucMV : Dhigurah fire highlights failures in enforcement of safety standards in migrant worker accommodations Read the full statement in English/Dhivehi: transparency.mv/press-statemen…

"The Commission on Elections yesterday refuted posts circulating on social media that Comelec Chairman George Garcia is pushing for manual vote counting in the 2028 general #elections." #Philippines philstar.com/nation/2026/03…

"#Thailand's parliament will ​hold a session ‌on March 19 to vote on ​a new ​prime minister, House Speaker ⁠Sophon Zaram ​said on ​Monday, following last month's general election." reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

"#Nepal's Election Commission confirmed the 37‑year‑old as a proportional‑representation MP from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) which won a majority in parliament with 182 seats last week." #Elections france24.com/en/live-news/2…

"The number of Filipinos registered to vote for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan #elections (#BSKE) has surpassed 3.1 million nationwide, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported." #Philippines gmanetwork.com/news/topstorie…

Joint Press Release 16 March 2026 Do We Want to Return to an Era Where the Government Cannot Be Criticised? We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, strongly condemn and question the justification behind the actions of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Madani Government in commencing investigations against several activists, academics, and political researchers under Section 124B of the Penal Code on the grounds of alleged “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.” We are of the view that this action clearly constitutes a form of intimidation and a serious attempt to silence the voices of citizens from criticising the government lawfully and based on facts. At the time of writing, PDRM has summoned representatives from The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), BERSIH, as well as several academics, researchers, and political analysts including Associate Professor Dr. Syaza Syukri (IIUM), Dr. Mazlan Ali (UTM), and Aziff Azuddin (IMAN Research). According to a statement from the police, a total of 14 individuals have been questioned. We have also received information that more individuals are expected to be called in by PDRM in the near future, raising concerns that a broader operation may be underway to investigate and profile critical voices within civil society and academia. PDRM reportedly asked numerous questions during the investigations in an attempt to link individuals and organisations named in an email currently under investigation. A total of 80 questions were posed, covering issues such as criticisms previously directed at the government, sources of information, funding sources, the formation of groups established to criticise the government, the impact of such criticisms on public perception, when individuals first heard of alleged attempts to topple the Prime Minister, and various other questions seeking to associate these activists and academics with alleged unlawful attempts to bring down the government. In addition, in its statement on 13 March, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) stated that they are currently tracking down several key witnesses and alleged that these witnesses are travelling abroad. Is PDRM attempting to create the impression or perception that these witnesses are trying to flee and evade questioning because they have committed wrongdoing? These developments are deeply concerning for the state of freedom of expression and the right to criticise the government, including enforcement institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which itself lacks strong and independent oversight mechanisms. The pattern of questioning suggests that criticism of the government is being framed as a threat to the state. Such an approach is dangerous and entirely inconsistent with the principles of a mature democracy. We fear that commentary, analysis, and criticism based on available information, reasoned arguments, and constructive recommendations for reform may now be interpreted as activities that threaten parliamentary democracy or attempts to topple the government. In reality, much of the criticism directed at the government—particularly toward the MACC in the context of anti-corruption efforts in Malaysia—is intended to strengthen democratic and enforcement institutions through meaningful checks and balances that prevent any single individual from wielding excessive power. In light of this, we wish to state firmly our demands to the Madani Government: 1. Immediately cease the intimidation of activists and members of the public through the use of Section 124B of the Penal Code to investigate individuals who are exercising their right to speak out. Such actions only suppress freedom of expression and academic freedom. Legitimate and well-founded criticism should never be construed as an activity that undermines parliamentary democracy. On the contrary, such criticism and views are intended to strengthen Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy. This principle lies at the very foundation of democratic governance, and the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of citizens to express their views under Article 10. 2. Ensure full transparency and clear disclosure regarding the intent, purpose, and scope of this investigation. Ambiguity or failure to provide adequate explanation will only deepen the existing trust deficit toward public institutions. In such circumstances, the investigative process itself risks being perceived as a form of entrapment against citizens who speak out, raising serious concerns about procedural fairness and the institutional integrity of the authorities involved. 3. The Madani Government must not allow the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) or any other enforcement agencies to be weaponised against individuals or groups simply because those in power are uncomfortable with criticism or differing views. Enforcement institutions must remain independent, professional, and free from political interference, operating strictly in accordance with the law and in the interest of the public—not as instruments used to suppress critical voices. The use of national security provisions such as Section 124B against civil society activists and academics will only reinforce the perception that the government is reverting to old practices—using the machinery of the state to silence critics. We must also ask whether the Madani Government, particularly Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has forgotten that he himself was once among the most vocal critics of the government. At one time, he too was labelled with various accusations—from being called a CIA agent to a Zionist agent—in an attempt to create the perception that he and his allies were influenced by foreign actors seeking to destabilise the country. Yet today, the Madani Government appears to be using similar narratives and tactics to silence criticism from civil society organisations, academics, and political analysts. Is this not the greatest form of hypocrisy? We therefore call on the Madani Government not to weaponise PDRM and other enforcement agencies against parties simply because it is uncomfortable with legitimate criticisms raised by them. This is the time for Malaysia to move forward by reforming enforcement institutions so that they protect the people—not turn their powers against citizens who speak out in the interest of strengthening institutions and democracy.

Groups demand transparency in police probe of alleged plot against govt Bersih chairperson Faisal Abdul Aziz said civil society organisations will cooperate with police probes as long as the investigative process is transparent. Amid ongoing police investigations under Section 124B of the Penal Code for actions that threaten democracy, he noted concerns about how questions posed to activists appeared to target their organisations. m.malaysiakini.com/news/770386

"With the June 3 local #elections approaching, debate has resurfaced over voting rights for foreign residents as Korea’s foreign population continues to grow." #SouthKorea koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/soc…

"The Elections Commission (EC) decided today (Mar. 15) to open the opportunity for candidates to sign the registry of people eligible to vote in the two #elections and the referendum to be held on the 4th of April." #Maldives edition.mv/news/49091?ref…

Kami bersama Andrie dan kami mendesak Negara untuk: • Usut Tuntas dan Tangkap Pelaku: Mendesak aparat penegak hukum untuk segera menangkap pelaku lapangan serta mengungkap aktor intelektual di balik serangan ini. • Jamin Perlindungan Pembela HAM: Menuntut negara untuk

Kerajaan telah bersetuju untuk tubuhkan Jawatankuasa Parlimen (JKP) bagi meneliti semula RUU Pemisahan Peguam Negara dan Pendakwa Raya. Namun terma rujukan JKP ini sangat asas dan tidak menyeluruh. Jadi apa yang sebenarnya perlu dibincangkan dalam JKP ini? @C4Center @IDEASMalaysia @ikrammalaysia @rasuahbusters

RUU untuk memisahkan peranan Peguam Negara dan Pendakwa Raya telah dibincangkan di Parlimen. Tapi ada beberapa persoalan penting masih belum jelas 👀 Apa pandangan korang? Patutkah RUU ini diteliti dahulu sebelum diluluskan?