KUALA LUMPUR:The Election Reform Committee (ERC) is prepared to assist the government and all stakeholders in drawing up a legal provision on postponing an election in times of crisis, ultimately creating a fairer and more effective election management system.
Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said there was a need for an overall review of the existing laws to allow a by-election, state election or general election to be postponed during crises including health crisis, turmoil, environmental disaster or a situation that threatened national security.
"For this purpose, a special provision could be included in the Federal Constitution and Elections Act 1958 to give the Election Commission (EC) the power to take necessary actions during any crisis that is detrimental to the nation," he said in a statement today.
Abdul Rashid, a former EC chairman, was responding to the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions), Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof that the government was prepared to draw up a law involving the elections to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"The current legal framework only empowers the EC to manage the elections, that is, this independent body must hold an election when there is a vacancy but there is no provision for it to postpone the election," he said.
Under Clause 1, Article 54 of the Federal Constitution, the EC must conduct an election within 60 days to fill a vacancy.
In this respect, Abdul Rashid said new provisions needed be introduced to overcome situations which could interfere with democracy in holding an election and erode freedom, justice and tranparency of the election process.
He said the basic features of a democratic election could not be ignored while a perfect method based on the existing law should not be set aside just for the sake of completing an election.
"So, the time has come to add a new provision to the Constitution or a new section to the Elections Act 1958 to further empower the EC in managing elections in the country.
"In a democratic election, each candidate and each political party should be given ample opportunities to campaign while the voters should not be hampered by restrictive rules in fulfilling their responsibility of voting," he added.
On Aug 27, the ERC proposed to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the ER draw up special guidelines on managing elections in times of crisis, to ensure preparedness in facing unexpected situations or emergencies.
These include natural calamities, riots and curfews like the Movement Control Order during a pandemic that cannot be overcome within a short period of time.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Nov 03 2020
Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said there was a need for an overall review of the existing laws to allow a by-election, state election or general election to be postponed during crises. Photo: Bernama
Kes demam denggi meningkat pada ME16, empat kematian dilaporkan
Kes demam denggi dilaporkan meningkat kepada 2,321 kes pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-16 (ME16) iaitu bagi tempoh 14 April hingga 20 April lepas.
Nor Farah Ain tidak percaya bergelar juara dunia
Atlet boling pada negara Nor Farah Ain Abdullah masih tidak percaya sudah bergelar juara dunia pada penampilan sulungnya di Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia 2024 di Guernsey, Channel Islands
Program Jana Wibawa dilaksana selepas dapat persetujuan Jemaah Menteri - Saksi
Mahkamah Sesyen di sini hari ini diberitahu bahawa cadangan mengenai Jana Wibawa telah dibawa ke mesyuarat untuk pertimbangan sebelum Jemaah Menteri memutuskan supaya program itu diteruskan pada 2020.
[TERKINI] Sidang Media Perdana Menteri di Riyadh, Arab Saudi
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadakan sidang media susulan lawatan kerja rasmi ke Mesyuarat Khas WEF 2024 di Riyadh Arab Saudi.
SPR keluar 188 kertas undi pos bagi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Pengeluaran kertas undi pos itu dilakukan oleh petugas pilihan raya yang dilantik Pegawai Pengurus dengan kehadiran ejen undi pos daripada semua empat calon yang bertanding.
Video disalah sunting, Teo Nie Ching buat laporan polis
Teo berkata pilihan raya bukanlah tiket untuk mana-mana pihak menyebarkan fitnah dengan niat mencetuskan perbalahan antara masyarakat pelbagai kaum dan agama.
KDN muktamad pembelian empat helikopter untuk APMM bernilai RM600 juta
Kertas kerja bagi perolehan aset itu sudah diserahkan kepada Kementerian Kewangan untuk keputusan akhir.
Tulis ancaman bom atas bungkusan, pekerja stor didenda RM3,000
Muhammad Rozali Rahim, 23, membuat pengakuan itu ketika pertuduhan terhadapnya dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Muhammad Bukhori Md Ruslan.
Kempen PRK KKB lancar setakat ini - Polis Selangor
Kempen PRK DUN KKB yang memasuki hari ketiga hari ini berjalan lancar dan tiada sebarang insiden tidak diingini dilaporkan setakat ini.
Buletin AWANI Khas: Asia Barat sedang ‘Stress’: Dialog menteri-menteri dunia Arab
Situasi meruncing di Gaza, konflik Iran-Israel dan ditambah pula persaingan kuat dua kuasa, Amerika Syarikat dan China dilihat terus membayangi percaturan geopolitik dan geoekonomi negara-negara Islam di Asia Barat. Beberapa Menteri Luar negara-negara Arab duduk sepentas di Mesyuarat Khas WEF, Riyadh dalam sesi ini.
#SpecialMeeting24
#SpecialMeeting24