Expanding EC’s power vital to cater to emergencies - Azhar Harun

SHAH ALAM - The country needs to revise the enlargement and extension of the Election Commission’s (EC) power to cater for emergencies, says the commission’s former chairman Tan Sri Azhar Harun.

Azhar told Sinar Daily that during his time as the EC chairman, they had several committees that were looking at several areas of election in order to make room for improvements and regulations were one of them.

“In India, the EC had the power to postpone and suspend the election. In the last GE in India, the EC suspended the election for one state because it was impossible to have fair elections in that area because they found so much cash being carried into that area.

“They had that power, but we do not.

“We had to complete the election within 60 days and this period in the Federal Constitution and there is non-provision for extension.

“That is one legal impediment that we have,” he said.

Azhar, also the current Dewan Rakyat speaker, further explained they do not have the power to postpone or enlarge time as the polling date and time need to be gazetted first.

“When I was in EC, we did consider all this impairment but of course, the law has not changed and my opinion is that there must be a level of flexibility within the EC.

“The law needs to be reviewed and possibly amended to allow the EC under certain circumstances, under very well-defined circumstances to allow the EC to either postpone or enlarge the polling time or to change the polling day if necessary,” he said.

When asked if there was any political loop within the EC, Azhar said the law and regulations committee looked into the problem and prepared a report.

“Well, at that time, we were looking at it, and we were preparing a report but the report was not yet ready, so it was not yet presented but now I don’t know the current stand of the EC,” he said.

Speaking on the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15) which would be held just ahead of monsoon season which also sets the risk of floods in certain areas, Azhar said the election would probably be a challenge if it rains heavily.

He noted that rainy weather would still be acceptable, but it would be different if things took a turn and floods happened.

“I remember as the EC chairman,we have to prepare for the possibility of floods in Tanjung Piai.

“We had plans A and B, and we had boats ready. So we were very detailed in our preparation.

“So although it’s going to be challenging, I think EC would be up for the challenge.

“Of course, when we are talking about GE, that is the whole country so the challenges are going to be more serious and more difficult to solve but I’m sure EC will be prepared for it,” he said.

Azhar said this during an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily for the latest episode of Fireside Chat.