MP wants new EC appointments to go through parliamentary committee

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong has called on the government to allow the appointment of new commissioners to the Election Commission to go through the newly set-up parliamentary select committee on major public appointments.

Khoo (photo above) noted that according to the Federal Constitution, the EC members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the prime minister.

However, he said there was no reason why the government cannot make the process public.

"Legally, the prime minister and cabinet will still have the final say, but there is no reason to keep the process leading up to that decision behind closed doors.

"The appointment of the new EC members must be based on a more thorough and democratic process," he said in a statement today.

Khoo said the government and the committee should make an open call for nomination.

" Any individuals or organisations should be allowed to nominate potential candidates," he said.

He added that the committee can also develop guidelines on qualification criteria for the nominees.

Khoo said the committee can vet and short-list candidates based on feedback from the public hearing and provide justification.

"The nomination should then be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. Once passed, the prime minister can present it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the official appointment," he said.

He added that in the long run, the government should also institutionalise this process by making it the law.

In October last year, five EC commissioners resigned amid speculation that a tribunal would be set up to look into their alleged wrongdoings.

However, the EC later clarified that their resignation was made before the proposal of a tribunal.

The previous EC leadership had been accused of bias towards the previous government. - Mkini