YOU have missed the bigger picture and the chance to grill former Election Commission (EC) officials about whether their actions during the previous general election (GE14) contravened the Federal constitution, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah has said regarding the EC tribunal’s decision not to proceed any further.

“It is disappointing for the tribunal to make such a decision. It is not a matter of whether the previous commissioners resigned voluntarily,” she said.

“The tribunal needs to look at the bigger picture, ie to interrogate the former commissioners to find out if they contravened the Federal Constitution and laws of Malaysia.

“Did they deliver justice and a free and fair election in carrying out their work on delineation, new voter registration, protected suffrage rights, election processes and other election issues?” said the former Bersih 2.0 chairman, adding the premature end to the tribunal has left these issues unresolved.

The tribunal investigating allegations of misconduct during GE14 by six former EC commissioners decided not to continue today because the matter had become purely academic, said tribunal chairman and retired Federal Court judge Steve Shim.

He said the six people in question had already stepped down and that public interest would not be served to spend more resources on the matter.

“EC Commissioners, past or present, must be held to a higher standard when they carry out important work, especially for national elections which touch the rights of every citizen.

“By disbanding the tribunal it sends the message that it’s OK to violate election laws and the Constitution, as long as you retire or resign before being brought to trial.

“It means that election staff can enjoy immunity (from prosecution) for their offences.”

The tribunal needed to reconsider its decision and resolve election issues that have plagued the country for more than 60 years, said Maria. – May 24, 2019.