SHAH ALAM, July 26 — The Election Commission (EC) today said it is powerless to act or implement any of Bersih’s demands, and that only the “government of the day” has the final say on the electoral laws in the country.
EC deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar absolved himself and his colleagues of any responsibility towards electoral reforms amid boos and jeers during apublic dialogue with Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreevenasan, stressing that there was “nothing wrong” with the EC.
“The EC is not an enforcement agency; it is only a management body for elections. The best we can do is to propose relevant laws to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“But ultimately it is the government of the day, which obtained majority votes, which has the final say. If the government decides that voting age is 21 years old, whatever proposal we send to the A-G’s Chambers can never go to Parliament,” he said at a public forum titled “What next after July 9” organised by the Karangkraf group.
Wan Ahmad said Bersih should discuss its concerns with the federal government, repeatedly stating that the EC had no powers to amend laws.
“Don’t treat the EC as your enemy... we listen to all views,” pleaded Wan Ahmad.
The EC official’s explanation did not sit well with the 300-odd people at the talk, with most of them reacting in a very hostile manner towards him.
Wan Ahmad did not respond well to the jeers, and at one point even chastised the audience for not being intellectually competent to understand the issues concerning electoral reforms.
“Most of you have this presumption; you assume, that’s why you are reacting like this. You do not understand that the EC operates under many other laws like the Police Act, the Sedition Act. Don’t push the blame on us... maybe those present are not ready for a discussion like this,” he said.
MORE TO COME
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.