New panel to review electoral system

PETALING JAYA: The government has formed a special committee to review election laws and systems in Malaysia.

The new Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) is chaired by former Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Rashid will be aided by several others who will be identified and appointed to the committee later.

“The ERC is being given two years to complete its duties, including coming up with a report and recommendations for the government to refine and implement.

“In the process of reviewing all aspects of election management, the ERC must consult and obtain feedback as well as suggestions from various parties especially stakeholders,” said the statement yesterday.

The relevant parties – politicians, voters and non-governmental organisations – will be given the opportunity and space to air their views and suggestions.

The ERC will also review systems and best practices in other democratic nations which have reached a suitable standard and possess an election management system based on democratic principles accepted by all parties as “Independent, Fair, and Transparent”.

The six terms of reference for the ERC include studying laws that touch on the processes of elections as well as analysing the need to introduce an election system suitable with the demands of the social order (current needs of the people, politics, economic, socio-culture, and others).

The ERC will also make recommendations to establish laws that are up to the standards of election management at the international level.

The committee will study the need to introduce laws especially on the setting up of a caretaker government following Parliament dissolution and state assemblies.

It will also analyse the need to have a law to empower the electoral management body to register and regulate political organisations and parties.

Lastly, the ERC will form work committees as needed, including drafting election laws after its report on election reforms had been accepted and approved by the government.

Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, when contacted, welcomed the formation of the ERC, as it is taking heed of the recommendations given by the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC).

“One of the proposals given by the IRC is to reform the electoral system. So, we are very pleased that this committee is now in place to look into electoral laws and practices.”

However, Dr Shad pointed out that the ERC has big shoes to fill, as there are several issues that needed to be addressed, among which is to improve the integrity and accuracy of the electoral list.

“So, the names of the deceased are removed and the names of ineligible persons are not included,” he added.