Azmin to head the special Cabinet committee to review proposals for Electoral Reform

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14- Before the report is made public, the government has set up a special committee to review the 49 recommendations submitted by the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC).

Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Minister in the Department of Prime Minister, said the special committee comprising members of the Cabinet is headed by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and will scrutinize each of the recommendations to decide which is a priority and whether it can be accomplished.

Takiyuddin told Dewan Rakyat today, “The government needs time to assess, get opinions and feedback from several agencies, particularly important bodies such as the Election Commission.“

He replied to Khoo Poay Tiong, DAP Kota Melaka MP, who asked if the government would make the ERC report and its findings public.

Takiyuddin added that the report would be made public to get the public’s input once the special committee completes its review.

“This is a step taken by the government and on behalf of the government, I believe that the report will be presented to all MPs in Parliament and that it can be discussed directly and indirectly if necessary,” he said.

He added that the government’s purpose for studying the recommendations is also to ensure that the changes made will actually add value to the nation’s citizens.

After two years of surveys and reports, the ERC submitted 49 recommendations to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in August to revise the voting system.

Recommendations included the periodic appointment of new members to the Electoral Boundary Board, instead of the existing norm of once every eight years.

When the redelineation exercise was performed just prior to GE14 in 2018, the last appointments were made.

New laws regulating public funds, contributions and private money channelled into political parties were also mooted by the ERC; appointing foreign and local observers during elections; registering political parties with the Election Commission; ensuring that one candidate competes for only one seat; and ensuring that the EC has greater power to control polls.