Election Integrity Pledge - What are Pakatan Leaders waiting for?

Updated, 27 Feb: Anwar Ibrahim has openly denounced the Transparency International Malaysia's Election Integrity Pledge [Hanya pemimpin rasuah sokong Ikrar Integrity Pilihanraya: Anwar/Only corrupt leaders support the Election Integrity Pledge: Anwar].

Keadilan Daily, 26/2/2013

Anwar and Keadilan Daily, his party's mouthpiece,  obviously don't have a clue who they're calling "corrupt leaders". 

Or perhaps daughter Nurul Izzah never did sign the Election Integrity Pledge on April 2 last year ..?

Corrupt leaders support the Pledge: Nurul Izzah bte Anwar Ibrahim is on the list of signatories

Original posting:

“When he (Nik Aziz) was appointed as the Menteri Besar, he was sworn in before the Sultan. He should have told the Sultan it was unnecessary to sign as what is important is in the heart. This is all empty talk, just politics." Nazri Aziz on Niz Aziz's response to Najib Razak's Election Integrity Pledge [Opposition Leaders are Scared - Bernama 23 Feb]

Nazri Aziz is not someone I've credited with too many things but you must admit he's spot on here with regards to Nik Aziz's assertion that the "nawaitu" or "intention" is more important that actually signing the Election Integrity Pledge. The PAS spiritual leader must be so detached from our real, physical world to have thought of even saying something like that. Holier than you and me, for sure.

I am not the only one thinking that Pakatan leaders should not make too much of an issue out of the EIP, if they really want a fair and clean election. Just because Najib Razak has done it first does not mean they still can't do it. And just because Nazri has ridiculed you does not mean you should continue with the ridiculous stand and say that the "niat" is more important than the actual deed. 

Here's a mail reflecting that view that's been circulating on the mail:

Clean election candidates: Najib leads the way

In the history of Malaysia, it has never been done before and in the history of the world, Malaysia is set to be the first country to do it.  What is it? It's the Election Integrity Pledge.

Najib Tun Razak was the first Malaysian Prime Minister to sign such a pledge before a forthcoming general election.

If all BN candidates also sign the pledge after their candidatures are announced, Malaysia will be the first country in the world to do so, said Transparency International (TI) whose representatives witnessed the signing at Putrajaya.

"The positive tone from the top is an encouraging indicator of the government’s seriousness in fighting corruption and practicing good governance, "  said Paul Low, President of Malaysian Chapter of TI.

The pledge included a promise to:

•  Observe the principles of truth, integrity, ethical conduct and accountability;

•  Uphold the interests of the rakyat; and

•  Practice good governance and transparency.          

“Today we are making a further commitment to put those principles into practice by agreeing to internationally recognised standards of electoral transparency and fairness, " said Najib.

This is BN's second move to have clean candidates in GE-13. Potential candidates have already gone through a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission screening process, to ensure they meet the high standards of integrity expected by the Malaysian public.

The issue of integrity is extremely important, said Low. He urged all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, to uphold this principle.

Will all opposition candidates also sign the pledge? The rakyat wants to know.