ID :
192419
Sat, 07/02/2011 - 12:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/192419
The shortlink copeid
EC'S TRANSFORMATION FOR FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - It is the duty of the Election Commission (EC) to protect, administer and maintain the democratic process of the country through free and fair elections.
It is also doing its best to meet the demands from several quarters who have been calling for a better electoral process.
EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the commission had made various improvements to ensure elections were conducted in a transparent manner.
"We've done a lot and brought many issues to Parliament to improve the electoral process," he said at a recent forum on "Tuntutan Bersih - Apa Penjelasan SPR" (Bersih Demands - What the EC Has to Say) organised by the Mind Development Institute here.
He said some of the demands could be implemented while others would need reviews or amendments to the law.
On postal ballot system, he said, the EC would take over the process completely.
"These are among the changes that we have implemented. If previously political agents can enter the camps to observe the voting process, with the latest changes, they can't do that anymore," said Wan Ahmad.
In the meantime, the EC is also considering three options to prevent unofficial election results from being leaked out.
The options include banning handphones from the vote-tallying centres, compelling election agents to sign statutory declarations not to publicise any unofficial results, and counting the ballot papers from 5pm or much later.
Looking at the EC's seriousness to improve the electoral process, observers feel that the reason for the illegal rally on July 9 -- that is to demand for a fair and clean electoral process -- is baseless.
On the automatic voter registration, Wan Ahmad said it was against the constitution.
"As long as Article 119 of the Federal Constitution is not amended, the automatic registration can never be implemented," he said.
He said an individual is free to decide whether to register as voters or not.
"If we carry out the automatic registration, everybody will be registered including those with mental illness," he said.
On the call for a minimum 21-day of campaign period, he said EC did not set the time frame blindly.
Many factors had to be taken into considerations, including number of voters, he said.
It is also doing its best to meet the demands from several quarters who have been calling for a better electoral process.
EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the commission had made various improvements to ensure elections were conducted in a transparent manner.
"We've done a lot and brought many issues to Parliament to improve the electoral process," he said at a recent forum on "Tuntutan Bersih - Apa Penjelasan SPR" (Bersih Demands - What the EC Has to Say) organised by the Mind Development Institute here.
He said some of the demands could be implemented while others would need reviews or amendments to the law.
On postal ballot system, he said, the EC would take over the process completely.
"These are among the changes that we have implemented. If previously political agents can enter the camps to observe the voting process, with the latest changes, they can't do that anymore," said Wan Ahmad.
In the meantime, the EC is also considering three options to prevent unofficial election results from being leaked out.
The options include banning handphones from the vote-tallying centres, compelling election agents to sign statutory declarations not to publicise any unofficial results, and counting the ballot papers from 5pm or much later.
Looking at the EC's seriousness to improve the electoral process, observers feel that the reason for the illegal rally on July 9 -- that is to demand for a fair and clean electoral process -- is baseless.
On the automatic voter registration, Wan Ahmad said it was against the constitution.
"As long as Article 119 of the Federal Constitution is not amended, the automatic registration can never be implemented," he said.
He said an individual is free to decide whether to register as voters or not.
"If we carry out the automatic registration, everybody will be registered including those with mental illness," he said.
On the call for a minimum 21-day of campaign period, he said EC did not set the time frame blindly.
Many factors had to be taken into considerations, including number of voters, he said.
