Reform EC appointments before chief retires in May, Bersih urges govt

With just two days left before the current Dewan Rakyat session ends, electoral watchdog Bersih has called on the government to urgently reform the appointment process for the Election Commission (EC).

The group said this was of crucial importance as current EC chief Abdul Ghani Salleh is due to retire in May, one month before the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes.

“Reforming this appointment process is crucial, especially since the next EC chairperson is likely to have the responsibility of reviewing and implementing the redelineation of electoral boundaries,” it said in a statement today.

Besides Ghani’s (above) impending retirement, there is also one other vacancy in the EC for the commissioner from Sabah.

Bersih had previously suggested that appointments to the EC go through a parliamentary committee.

“EC members should be appointed through a transparent, open, accountable, and inclusive mechanism to gain the trust of all stakeholders,” the group said.

Besides the appointments reform, Bersih also raised questions about the government’s willingness to look into new methods for absentee votes, particularly for 

Sabahans and Sarawakians who work or study in the peninsula, to vote remotely.

They suggested that one solution could be to set up mega polling centres in each state in Peninsular Malaysia for East Malaysians to cast their ballots.

Meanwhile, Bersih also prodded the government to amend the Election Offences Act to make it more effective.

At present, the Act is ostensibly toothless as the EC doesn’t have the power to investigate or take action under the law. - Mkini