EC produces booklet to explain issues related to elections

KUALA LUMPUR - The Election Commission (EC) has produced a booklet to clarify issues raised concerning elections in the country.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the commission opined that it was high time for an appropriate clarification be published to straighten things out following the allegations raised by certain quarters against the EC.

“With the clarification, it is hoped that all quarters will understand clearly the policies and actions taken by the EC in holding elections in an independent, transparent and fair manner,” he said in his message in the booklet entitled “Penjelasan Terhadap Isu-isu yang Dibangkitkan Mengenai Pilihan Raya” (Explanation on Issues Raised Concerning Elections) dated June 22.

Abdul Aziz said of late certain quarters were questioning the capability and credibility of the EC in handling elections in the country.

He said among the allegations made against the commission were that it was blocking voter registration, would not abolish postal voting which is alleged to have benefited the ruling party and would not allow all Malaysians abroad to be registered as postal voters.

“Other allegations include the EC's reluctance to implement the use of indelible ink and its failure in combating bribery during elections,” he said.

The 19-page booklet explains, among others, the issues of automatic registration of voters, postal voting, registration of illegal immigrants as voters, phantom voters, relocation of voters and calls to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years.

Besides these, the issues of campaigning period, election bribery, expenditure control and fair access for the media to monitor elections are also clarified in the booklet.

- The Star