SHAH ALAM, 21 Jan: The Election Commission (EC) should give the state government power to coordinate and monitor the appointment of any person as an electoral registration agent.
Paya Jaras Assemblyman, Mohd Khairuddin Othman, said that this needs to be done to ensure the transparency of appointment and the ability of these people of carrying out their duties with fairness to all parties.
“The state government is more suitable to monitor and coordinate all appointments, regardless whether it is under the Village Safety and Development Committee (JKKK) and JKKKP (central).
“Let state government agencies manage it so that there is transparency, not to mention that the EC also has the state EC to help,” said Mohd Khairuddin when contacted by Selangor Kini.
Mohd Khairuddin added that he understands that in addition to giving power to the JKKP, the Community Development Department (KEMAS) and the Special Affairs Department (JASA), the EC should also give power to state-appointed JKKK to manage the EC electoral registration.
Meanwhile, the Semenyih Assemblyman, Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz, said that the appointed people should ensure that the registration management is conducted fairly and transparently.
“Previously, political parties could be agents; it was not an issue at all. The important thing is that they need to comply with the pledge in carrying out duties entrusted to them,” said Johan.
Previously, the Ministry of Rural Development and Territories, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, reportedly said that JKKKPs have been given the role of managing the electoral roll in the whole country.
However, this proposal was criticised by the Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who likened the new role assigned by the EC as being the same as “giving power to Umno”.
NS
