'Prove fraud before asking EC to resign'

Election Commission chief Abdul Aziz Yusuf has challenged the opposition to furnish proof of electoral fraud in their election petitions, if they want the current commissioners to resign.

“All EC members will not resign based on the call by certain quarters. I received many phone calls asking me not to bow down to the call.

“What's our fault? The whole world would laugh if we resign just because of the call,” he told Sinar Harian in an exclusive interview with the Malay daily published today.

“We will not resign. If they want us to resign, first they need to file petitions to clearly show that we have cheated and broken the law, then only would we comply.”

Abdul Aziz was responding to the three demands raised by Pakatan Rakyat in its series of rallies dubbed 'Black505'.

The opposition coalition have called on the EC to resign, have fresh elections in 30 parliamentary constituencies, and commence with redelineation exercise only after the current EC is replaced.

Abdul Aziz explained that EC members are appointed by the Agong and hold the office until they turn 66, or voluntarily step down.

They can only be sacked through a tribunal similar to the method of removing a judge, according to him.

On the demand to have fresh elections in certain constituencies, Abdul Aziz clarified that only the court has the power to instruct the EC to do so.

for the redelineation exercise, he revealed that major studies have been carried out in the peninsula and the same process will begin in Sabah and Sarawak soon.

Commenting on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement on June 1 that a special committee will be set up to oversee the EC, Abdul Aziz said it would be a body that the commission can refer to, discuss with and request for feedback on electoral issues.

He stressed that the committee cannot instruct the EC to do anything unless the federal constitution is amended, because the commission enjoys independence guaranteed by the constitution.