PKR deputy president Azmin Ali welcomed the move to make the Election Commission (EC) accountable to a special bipartisan committee, but said it proved that there were faults with the electoral system.
"The announcement showed that the federal government concedes that there is fraud and weaknesses in the electoral process," said Azmin in a press release today.
Azmin is among three Pakatan Rakyat MPs who were part of the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, mooted by the Najib administration a month after the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, 2011.
Headed by Kota Marudu MP Maximum Johnity Ongkili, the committee held six public hearings in six months and produced a report with 22 recommendations [see links at the end of this article] for the EC, of which most were accepted and implemented.
However, following the 13th general election, there had been widespread claims that the election was marred by fraud.
There has also been concerns that BN was able to win 60 percent of the Parliamentary seats despite obtaining only 48.6 percent of the popular vote.
"The announcement showed that the federal government concedes that there is fraud and weaknesses in the electoral process," said Azmin in a press release today.
Azmin is among three Pakatan Rakyat MPs who were part of the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms, mooted by the Najib administration a month after the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, 2011.
Headed by Kota Marudu MP Maximum Johnity Ongkili, the committee held six public hearings in six months and produced a report with 22 recommendations [see links at the end of this article] for the EC, of which most were accepted and implemented.
However, following the 13th general election, there had been widespread claims that the election was marred by fraud.
There has also been concerns that BN was able to win 60 percent of the Parliamentary seats despite obtaining only 48.6 percent of the popular vote.
Follow the rules
Experts have warned that this disparity will become even worse - toBN's benefit - in the future following the EC's electoral boundary re-demarcation exercise which is scheduled to start later this year.
Meanwhile, Azmin also suggested that an independent body be established by Parliament to conduct the election boundary demarcation excercise.
He said that this is necessary because an independent body will not be accused of conflict of interest while the EC would be able to concentrate on management issues.
Expanding on his proposal, Azmin said re-demarcation of election boundaries needs to follow several criterias such as the electoral quota, the "5 percent rule", geographical size, special geographical considerations, local government boundaries, boundaries of existing constituencies and local ties.
"Such rules are to ensure that the recommendations made are based on fairness and a representative democratic system," he said.
Experts have warned that this disparity will become even worse - toBN's benefit - in the future following the EC's electoral boundary re-demarcation exercise which is scheduled to start later this year.
Meanwhile, Azmin also suggested that an independent body be established by Parliament to conduct the election boundary demarcation excercise.
He said that this is necessary because an independent body will not be accused of conflict of interest while the EC would be able to concentrate on management issues.
Expanding on his proposal, Azmin said re-demarcation of election boundaries needs to follow several criterias such as the electoral quota, the "5 percent rule", geographical size, special geographical considerations, local government boundaries, boundaries of existing constituencies and local ties.
"Such rules are to ensure that the recommendations made are based on fairness and a representative democratic system," he said.
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