No more need for tribunal over alleged EC misconduct: Liew

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need for the government to set up a tribunal or a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the alleged misconduct by the Election Commission (EC) during the recently concluded general election.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said this was after the commission's deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood and four other commissioners shortened their services and are due to resign on Jan 1.
"According to Article 125(3) of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can appoint a tribunal to investigate or judge the ability of a commissioner in carrying out his duty.
"However, in this matter, at the moment, based on the latest development over the resigning of the EC members, the issue of setting up a tribunal does not arise," he told the Dewan Rakyat, here, today.
Liew added that many of the election offences that were mentioned have also been filed as election petitions and heard in court.
"I understand that many of these petitions have been rejected. So it has already been brought up in court.
"As for the setting up of an RCI, I don't think it is time for us to discuss matters that have been decided in court now," he said.
Liew was responding to questions from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Malacca) on whether the government intends to establish a tribunal to probe claims of misconducts by the EC, especially during the 14th General Election.
Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 had also previously in June called on the government to set up an RCI into the elections, in addition to demanding the resignations of all the EC commissioners.
On a supplementary question by Tan Sri Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) on what guarantee the government has that the new EC chairman Azhar Azizan Harun would conduct his duty in a fair manner, Liew said the issue does not arise as his appointment has been consented by the Agong.
"It was also accepted well by those in the government. Although he was an activist before, I feel he will carry out his responsibilities professionally to ensure the New Malaysia will be able to reform the EC to a new level," he said.