Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Clean up electoral roll instead of reregistering voters, says Guan Eng - The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR (May 26, 2008):

The electoral roll should be cleaned up instead of re-registering voters, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

"Re-registration is a massive exercise and the same problems will happen because of the corrupt process. We need a credible and independent Election Commission (EC).

"The cancellation on the use of indelible ink was a result of a directive from the Cabinet and not the EC's independent decision.

"It shows that they were lying when they said they need to cancel the use of indelible ink for security reasons whereas (Home Minister) Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said there was no such reason," he told reporters in Parliament lobby today.

Lim said if the EC wanted a clean the roll, the commission itself has to be clean.

"There is a need for the EC to be revamped totally and only those who are independent be allowed to conduct elections and voter registrations," he added.

Lim was responding to EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman proposal to re-register voters.

Lim also questioned the advice to EC officers from Abdul Rashid to prepare for a snap election as reported today.

"Did he receive any indication from the cabinet or the prime minister? "He must clarify to the effect that the EC is not dependent," he added.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali suggested that EC worked closely with the National Registration Department (NRD) and get the latest registered voters to be listed in the new roll.

However, he said he was surprised to learn that the EC will need two years to complete the re-registration work.

"That's why I suggested the EC to work with the NRD," he said.

Asked if Abdul Rashid should still hold his position as the chairman, Azmin said Abdul Rashid should be the first to leave the EC as he must take responsibility as he is not independent and his credibility is at stake.

On the snap election advice, Azmin said for a person who takes instructions from the executive, Abdul Rashid is certainly ready "and that shows that he is not independent."

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