KUALA LUMPUR, June 12- The Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof today stressed that the EC leadership line-up will not step down from their respective posts just to meet the demand of those who were not satisfied with the results of the 13th general election.
He said the EC leadership line-up, comprising him, his deputy and five other members, were appointed according to the Federal Constitution with the approval from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Council of Rulers.
The resignation of members of the EC, which is an independent body, cannot be made by force, he said.
“It can only be done by law,” he told reporters after being interviewed as a guest on Nasional FM radio programme here today.
Abdul Aziz said only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had the power to order the EC leadership line-up to step down from their posts if they were found to have violated the election regulations and the Federal Constitution.
“If we violate the law, the best thing they can do is to file a petition and take us to court…prove that we are wrong first and we’ll see,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said the EC leadership line-up could only be stripped off their posts due to bankruptcy or when they were holding another post with income, becoming an elected representative, found to have committed a crime or suffered from mental illness.
“It can also be done by setting up a tribunal when the members of the EC lost public trust or violated the Federal Constitution,” he said.
The chairman said the opposition’s move to drag the people to stage a protest against the process of the 13th general election would not change the results.
“Prove it in court…don’t go making statement and confusing the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said the EC would begin its electoral constituencies redelineation study at the end of the year and that it would be done in a transparent manner.
The last redelineation of electoral constituencies was done in 2003 and it should be reviewed in 2011, but the EC had postponed it until after the 13th general election, he said.
“The Attorney-General has advised the EC to carry out the redelineation study immediately,” he added.
Under the Article 113 (2) (ii) of the Federal Constitution, the redelineation of the electoral constituencies could be done not less than eight years or not more than 10 years after the completion of the last study.
He said the EC had been given a maximum of two years to complete the study and the results would be put on display for public viewing before being tabled at the Parliament and state assembly.
– BERNAMA
