GE15 should have been held by now, says ex-EC chairman

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 1 year ago · Published on 27 Jun 2022 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Former Election Commission chairman Ab Rashid Ab Rahman says the current government is illegitimate in terms of a democracy. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 27, 2022.

THE 15th general election (GE15) must be held immediately to replace a government that does not have a mandate to rule, former Election Commission (EC) chairman Ab Rashid Ab Rahman said in an interview.

Rashid said the election “should have been held a long time ago” as the current government led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was formed through a political “ploy”.

He added that the government was unstable and undemocratic despite being legal under the Federal Constitution.

“They say this is a ‘palace’ government, that’s right, this is not a people’s government, constitutionally right but this is not an elected government.

“The current government is illegitimate in terms of a democracy,” Rashid told The Malaysian Insight.

The present government is the third since the last general election, and is already facing calls from within the lead party Umno for polls to be held soon.

Ismail, also an Umno vice-president, however has urged patience, saying that he wants the economy to recover first.

The current term ends in July next year.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) formed the government in Putrajaya after winning the 14th general election, defeating Barisan Nasional in May 2018.

The administration only lasted 22 months due to the treacherous Sheraton Move in February 2020, which saw Muhyiddin Yassin lead Perikatan Nasional to power.

However this only lasted 17 months as in August last year, Muhyiddin was forced to resign after a group of Umno MPs withdrew their support. A majority of Dewan Rakyat members then agreed for Ismail to be the prime minister.

“We should have held a general election. It should have been done a long time ago,” said Rashid.

According to Rashid, there was no stable government after the PH administration fell. Instead the political situation was often turbulent due to elected representatives vying for positions.

He said this situation was not good for the country if it is left to continue.

“There must be a legitimate government. The current government is unstable as a result of a combination of many characters and parties.”

“The prime minister always has to play politics between parties mixed in with the country’s current problems, our economy is bad, investors are running away,” he said.

Former Election Commission chairman Ab Rashid Ab Rahman is of the view that based on the current situation, the 15th general election is best held around the first quarter of next year, taking into account several factors including logistical suitability. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 27, 2022.

GE15 may be after March 2023

Rashid is of the view that based on the current situation, GE15 is best held around the first quarter of next year, taking into account several factors including logistical suitability.

This is due to the voting process, which usually uses school buildings, while students will have to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi examinations next March.

“Maybe early next year,” said the man involved in conducting six general elections while serving the Election Commission between 1979 and 2008.

The mandate of the last general election will expire on July 15, 2023.

Rashid, who is also the former chairman of the Election Reform Committee (ERC), said that many political problems after GE14 could be resolved if the government implemented the committee’s proposal.

This includes setting a date for the dissolution of Parliament, which is now an issue among politicians and a guessing game for the public.

The setting of the date for the general election is the 17th recommendation, out of 49 suggestions proposed by the committee to the government, to improve the democratic and electoral process in Malaysia.

A report submitted by the ERC to the prime minister in August 2020 recommended that the date for the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies be announced six months before the actual date.

Rashid also questioned whether politicians were serious in establishing political funding legislation.

He sees that there is no one at present who is really honest in wanting the law to be implemented.

“If we want to implement the political funding act, the main thing is to think about who wants to audit it. I don’t think it can be implemented.”

“I don’t think all political parties like it, because they want to be free. Ask DAP, they don’t want it. Umno doesn’t want it anymore.”

“The government doesn’t want it. Similarly for the opposition. They will find a reason to reject (the political funding law),” said Rashid.

Former Election Commission chairman Ab Rashid Ab Rahman questions the seriousness of political parties in implementing a law on political funding. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 27, 2022.

Give EC the power

Rashid said the ERC had proposed a solution to the issue of political funding, including the recommendation of the jurisdiction to audit.

“So look at our recommendations, how to control it,” he said.

The ERC, in its report, also recommended that the EC be given enforcement powers to enable issues related to the election process to be resolved immediately.

Apart from the audit of political funds, he gave examples of the issue of violation of election rules that are currently being addressed by other agencies such as the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He also said the EC should be given the role of determining the registration of political parties, not the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“The EC’s main task is to determine the law in Parliament and its implementation. EC becomes a strong observer and is in charge of political parties.”

“We want to give the EC the power to monitor political parties. Now there is no power. ROS is monitoring, but it has nothing to do with the election.”

“This is my opinion, if we want a strong democracy in our country, this must be done,” he added. – June 27, 2022.

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Comments

  • Rashid is an Umno-biased former EC Commissioner and does not have legitimacy or credibility to give his unsolicited advice. Please stay home and tend the garden. You've probably had enough 'perks' from the Umno governments of the past.

    Posted 1 year ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Rashid may be an UMNO member but his arguments and points seem fair and reasonable. The new Govt need to take this up post GE15. Its too late now.

    Posted 1 year ago by Super Duper · Reply

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  • This guy is nyayuk already. Working for UMNO instead of the rule of law. If you think youre right file a suit .. but surely the court will throw it out. Remember YDPA has the last word, only his senile brain cannot understand such a basic rule enshrined in the Constitution

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