UZBEKISTAN'S ELECTION : INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE FREE & FAIR PROCESS

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

TASHKENT, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The presence of international observers in Uzbekistan’s election this time is crucial to ensuring a free and fair process, said the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sodyq Sapoev.

”I appreciate all the international observers in this election to ensure Uzbekistan’s transparency,” he said at a forum on the Foreign Policy of Uzbekistan, held during the closing of the Week of International Partnership Initiatives at the Cinematography Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Friday.

The Election Commission (EC) Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, and the EC’s Head of Programme (Voter Education) at the Election Academy, Mohd Rizuan Md Drus, were among the six Malaysian international observers at the event.

A total of 50 countries, including Malaysia, were invited to observe the Uzbekistan elections on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloyev said Uzbekistan aims to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Aloyev’s speech in Uzbek was translated into Malay by Gulzoda Utkurova, 20, a graduate of Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies and the winner of the 15th Prime Minister's Cup International Malay Language Oratory Competition in 2023 in Penang.

Elsewhere, Malaysia's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Ilham Tuah Illias, when met after the forum, said Uzbekistan’s invitation for the Malaysian delegation to serve as international observers in its parliamentary elections this Sunday reflects the strong relationship between the two countries.

He noted that Malaysia-Uzbekistan relations have progressed following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Uzbekistan in May.

“Malaysia-Uzbekistan bilateral relations are now at their best level.

“The Prime Minister’s visit in May has opened numerous opportunities for bilateral relations in the economic, social, and cultural sectors,” he told Bernama.

Observations by Bernama indicated that Uzbekistan is well-prepared for its election on Sunday, with polling centres established at universities and the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.

On Oct 27, approximately 20 million eligible voters in Uzbekistan will head to the polls to elect 150 deputies to the Legislative Chamber, 56 members of the Senate, and deputies to regional, district, and city councils.

Five political parties have been approved to participate, including the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O’zLiDeP), the “Milliy Tiklanish” Democratic Party, the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, the People's Democratic Party, and the “Adolat” Social Democratic Party.

-- BERNAMA