Time to revamp the Election Commission
It is not surprising that Umno's Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah has suggested that the Election Commission chairman be replaced, as the EC has failed to inspire confidence.
Saifuddin is one of the few leaders in Umno who is respected by all strata of society and by all races. His statements, even when he served as a deputy minister in the previous administration, always had, and continue to have, the ring of fair-play and moderation.
That explains why he was appointed the chief executive officer of the Global Movement of Moderates.
It is a pity that he lost the Termerloh parliamentary seat in the May 5 2013 general election. Pas won the seat, but the nation lost the services of a good man, a moderate man. Unfortunately too, Umno delegates to the party’s general assembly did not elect him into the supreme council.
At a forum last week, Saifuddin said EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof should go. He was reported in the media as saying: “"We need someone who is passionate, independent and who does not say things on behalf of BN (Barisan Nasional)." He added: "You are not helping BN anyway."
How true. One of the reasons the opposition did well in last year’s general election was anger against the EC. Many voters felt that the EC was siding with the BN and was simply taking instructions from Umno, even though the EC denied this vehemently.
Saifuddin is only the latest in a stream of people who have called for the revamp, removal or resignation of the EC commissioners. Several street protests, organised by the coalition called Bersih, have been held, calling for a cleaner electoral system. And these protests have received tremendous public support.
If one were to carry out a survey, it would not be astonishing to discover that more than two thirds of respondents would say they have no faith in the EC. Almost everyone who has spoken to me about the EC since May 5 has said he or she does not trust the EC to do a fair job.
It is good, therefore, that following Saifuddin’s criticism, Abdul Aziz has invited the former deputy minister for a dialogue. He said the EC was prepared to discuss electoral matters with its critics but that it should be a closed-door affair.
Having open dialogues would better serve the interests of the EC, as people would see it as being more transparent. After all, every voter has a right to know what is happening in and with the EC.
I hope Abdul Aziz will hold dialogues and really listen to the complaints of the public, including the opposition. And act on them.
Abdul Aziz has reiterated that the EC is independent and that it does not help any political party to win any election. If that is true, then it is good. Unfortunately for him, most voters don’t believe him.
If that perception is to change, the EC must carry out real reforms to ensure elections are held in a clean and transparent manner. It cannot continue to defend itself by saying it is neutral. It has to show it is committed to fair play and transparency.
No less a person than the former chairman of the EC, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman had said not too long ago that past redelineation exercises had been designed to keep the Malays in power. Most people have interpreted this – rightly or wrongly – as keeping Umno in power.
Abdul Rashid was involved in at least three redelineation exercises and had served as EC secretary from 1979 until becoming its chairman from 2000 to 2008. Critics say his statement merely confirms suspicion that the EC has been a tool of the ruling BN.
But Abdul Rashid did stress that the redelineation exercises were done properly, not illegally.
Another constituency redelineation exercise is due now, but the opposition is blocking it as it fears that the EC would manipulate the boundaries to help the BN win more seats, or by better margins, in the next general election.
Complaints about a flawed electoral system and bias by the EC, apart from allegations of money politics, corruption, vote rigging and the existence of phantom voters have been heard for years now. Last September’s People’s Tribunal, which examined the 13th general election, revealed the shortcomings of the electoral system – with voters coming forward to provide proof of their allegations.
The EC should by now have collected all the complaints made by voters – directly and in the media – and started work on addressing these. I hope so, anyway.
And it certainly is time to revamp the EC – and reform the electoral system – so as to bring back the public’s trust in this important institution.
