NGO: EC is far from independent, Nazri

Despite de facto Law Minister Mohamed Nazri Aziz’ claim that the Election Commission (EC) is independent, conditions placed on the EC make it impossible for the body to act independently, said a civil society movement.

“The EC is supposed to manage elections independently. But ... every major function of the EC is constrained by Parliament or require Parliament’s  approval.

“The constitution has been amended more than 700 times since Independence so  much so that today, the EC functions like a department in the Prime Minister’s department.  

“Even in Putrajaya, you will see that the EC is housed in a building shared with the Public  Services Commission and the Public Works Department,” said Tindak Malaysia founder Wong Piang Yow (right).

Wong, in a statement yesterday, added that it is a “serious conflict of interest” that the EC is staffed exclusively by retired civil servants

“Not only that, every single SPR officer and staff employed during elections, in particular the  returning officer and presiding officers are from the civil service.

“How can they act  independently without jeopardising their jobs? Under these conditions, it is impossible for the EC to act independently.” he said.

EC’s actions speak louder

Nazri in Parliament on Thursday insisted that the EC was independent. He was addressing opposition claims of dubious voters in the electoral roll.

Wong hit at the minister saying it was the way the EC behaves that shows whether the commission was independent or not.

“We wish to remind  him that merely declaring the EC independent does not necessarily make them independent.  Independence of the EC is based on their actions and the results of their actions,” he said.

“In fact, after the  Bersih 2.0 march in Jul 2011, we see more blatant cases of abuse of their (EC’s) power. It is  reported that they intend to increase the number of SPR staff during elections from 140,000 to  240,000.

“We want to reduce the number of postal voters because of the way the system has  been abused to favour BN. Instead, in a slap in the face, they want to increase the numbers!” said Wong.