EC: Selangor has not informed us

The Election Commission today reminded opposition states that the dissolution of the state assembly must receive the consent of the Sultan

KUALA LUMPUR:  The Election Commission (EC) has not been officially informed by states under the opposition coalition, of any proposal to hold state elections separately from the 13th General Election, said its deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

“For example, the Selangor government has not informed us at all. We’ll wait till after Chap Goh Mei and see if the state government dissolves the State Assembly.

“The EC will just carry out its duty according to the law,” he said after an interview on the Hello Malaysia programme on Bernama TV, last night.

Wan Ahmad said the State Assembly’s dissolution should not be politicised as the state government had a right to do so.

“But it must be remembered, the matter must receive the Sultan’s consent. Therefore, we must respect the royal authority, even though it’s only a formality,” he said.

Furthermore, the community will be burdened if the state election was held separately as it would be very costly and would also disrupt classes in schools, he said.

“It will be more expensive. School teachers who are also election staff will have to be on duty twice and schools used as voting centres will have to be closed,” he said.

He said even if the State Assembly was dissolved, the decision on the final date was within the EC’s power, so it would be better to hold the state election simultaneously with the 13th General Election, which was drawing nearer.

“Under the Selangor State Formation Laws, which is the Selangor State Constitution,  if the State Assembly is dissolved early, the state election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution,” he said.

EC cleaning rolls everyday

Meanwhile, he disputed allegations that the general election process was the dirtiest and stressed that it would instead be a historic moment for recording the most changes and improvements implemented.

He said the updates and improvements on the general election process this time included the use of indelible ink, early voting, access to media for all political parties and, domestic and ASEAN observers.

“The EC cleans up the electoral rolls everyday by checking it online against the National Registration Department records.

“It’s impossible to have a 100-percent clean voters list anywhere in the world, but the EC intends to achieve one that is as clean as possible, ” he said.

He urged anyone with any information or proof on corruption, bribes and other related matters during the 13th General Election later to report it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

- Bernama