REFORM COMMITTEE MAY EMPOWER EC TO REGISTER PARTIES
Empowering EC will enable it to hold elections credibly, says ERC chief
THE Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) is looking into empowering the Election Commission (EC) to register political parties.
It is one of 15 proposals that ERC is studying to improve the electoral law and system to ensure that elections are transparent and free.
ERC chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman said other proposals included lowering the voting age to 18, automatic voter registration, reviewing the firstpast-the-post system, public or state funding of political parties and a code of conduct for parties and candidates during elections.
He said empowering EC to register voters would allow it to hold elections better and credibly.
“We are looking into (letting EC) register political parties and manage them,” he said after an ERC meeting here yesterday.
“We want an organisation (EC) that has more power and can deliver credible elections. The government wants new (election) laws in line with those in advanced democracies. We have two years to complete our work.
“If our recommendations are accepted, there will be a stronger EC. The country can look forward to free and fair elections.”
On calls by Petaling Jaya member of parliament Maria Chin Abdullah and other lawmakers for ERC be placed directly under Parliament, Rashid said the committee would study the recommendations for electoral reform and hand the results to Dewan Rakyat for debate and action.
He said ERC was working with electoral watchdog Bersih and one of its 18 members was from the body, adding that the committee welcomed feedback from other stakeholders.
“We will present (the ERC report) to the public to get their feedback.
“Interested organisations can also give their input. If they want a dialogue, this is possible.”