Is politics inherently dirty? Hopefully not, for it is part of the democratic process.
I am not about to discuss the political seesaw between Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd in the Australian Labor Party (ALP). That is too complicated for an old geezer like me.
In the first place, I’ve never wanted to engage in politics. In the practice of journalism, I must maintain the stance of being apolitical ~ in that sense ~ not to take sides and to maintain neutrality.
But what happened during the local ALP elections in Marayong Branch appears to be an exercise of dirty politics.
My attention was called by Mr. Jojo Laquian, former president of ALP Marayong. Together with Mr. Neil Galang, another active member of ALP, Laquian said that he has submitted the required nomination form for re-election as president. They both alleged that the form was handed directly to a certain Jeffrey, the ALP secretary of Marayong.
Confident that everything was in order, Galang and Laquian, together with enough number of followers, attended the scheduled elections on Sunday morning, the 17th of March. Many Filipino members, mostly senior citizens were present. The Returning Officer was Mr. Ron Alder of another ALP Branch.
According to Laquian and Galang, Jeffrey declared that he received only one written nomination that was submitted by Paul Mills. He allegedly denied having received any such form from Laquian. Thereupon, the Returning Officer declared the nominations closed and declared Mills the winner and new president.
Reports received indicate that many Filipino senior citizens walked out disappointed.
But wait, a review of the NSW ALP Rules 2012 very clearly states the following: “If not enough nominations are received in advance, written or verbal nominations can be made at the meeting during the elections.” Such a provision appears on page 38 of the Rule Book.
Thus, regardless of the denial made by Jeffrey, the Returning Officer should have accepted any verbal nomination made during the elections. Galang in fact said that he wanted to make a verbal nomination but he was allegedly turned down by the Returning Officer. Instead, nominations were immediately closed, making the position of the president uncontested.
When contacted by this writer on the night of 21st March, Mr. Ron Alder said that “he conducted everything by the book.” He added that “Jojo Laquian should contact ALP headquarters if he has any complaint.”
Galang however said that it is futile to make any such action. It may take a whole year before the matter is finally resolved, by which time, new elections for the position of president would be due.
I am reminded of a past PCC-NSW elections when Ruben Amores of the Ilocano Association won as president. There were 88 registered voters but when the ballots were counted, there emerged a total of 98 votes. Todate, it remains a mystery where the additional ballots came from.
Is politics a dirty game? You tell me! — ? Dino Crescini