SHAH ALAM, June 10: Assoc Prof Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff disagreed with the statement issued by the Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar who stated that the EC had carried out its job well in managing the recent 13th General Election.
While saying that the EC had failed, Dr Agus questioned the significance of the establishment of the Special Committee comprising of Members of Parliament from all political parties to regulate the credibility and integrity of the EC as announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak on 1 June.
He said that the EC’s failure in managing a clean electoral roll and preparing good indelible ink are perfect examples for the EC Chairman and the Deputy Chairman to resign.
“What I do not understand regarding the PM’s announcement is why should a committee be established to monitor the EC? I think that there is no need for a committee to monitor the EC because the EC is an independent body.
“What we need now are EC members who can act efficiently to manage a free and fair election. That is what we do not have,” said the Lecturer in Political Science from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) through his Facebook page.
If the government wishes to pursue further the establishment of the committee, Dr Agus suggested two solutions so that the matter can be implemented well.
“The government should set up a panel consisting of representatives of parties according to the quota of the popular vote received by the parties, and that each party is entitled to nominate their representatives, rather than be determined by the government.
“(Secondly) this committee also must be given a framework to examine some of the amendments to the Election Offences Act 1954, the Electoral Act 1958, the Election Regulations (Conduct of Elections) 1981, Electoral Laws (Registration of Electors) 2002 and Electoral Laws (Postal Voting) 2003,” he added.
