BERSIH 2.0 does not think the setting up of an electoral reform committee (ERC) is a good idea as changes to the electoral system should be under the purview of Parliament.
The election watchdog’s chief Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari said a parliamentary select committee on electoral reform should be established instead.
“We think it (ECR) is a bad idea. Why not have a parliamentary select committee to reform the election system?
“So there will be more check and balance, accountability and it will be more transparent,” he told The Malaysian Insight.
Putrajaya today announced the establishment of an ERC tasked with improving the election laws and process, including the possibility of having a new election system.
The committee will be headed by Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, the former Election Commission chairman, who has wide experience in the matter. Other members of the committee are being identified.
Shahrul also questioned that once this committee is set up, who will they be answerable to.
“We don’t want any political and vested interest coming into play. We are all for electoral reform but it should be under Parliament,” he said.
The committee will be given two years to complete its task and will be engaging with stakeholders, political parties and civil society groups to get their views.
They will also be looking at the system in other democratic countries that have a suitable system for electoral management.
Shahrul said that two years is a long time for the committee to come out with report.
“They should try to expedite it in six months. Reason being, implementation will take more time and by the time you know it; it’s Sarawak state election and then GE15.
“The unexpected results in GE14 doesn’t clear the fact that it was laden with rigging, malapportionment and other offences.” – August 16, 2018.
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