The Election Commission (EC) may be open to calls by various parties to include NGO representatives in decision-making to improve efficiency, as a way of preventing electoral concerns from being taken to the streets.

NONE “We are open to any suggestion but it is for the EC to make the decision because it is an independent body,” Minister is the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told a press conference today.

“If it is okay with them, then they (the EC) can negotiate with the government. As they (the NGOs) promise, there will not be any more street demonstrations.”

Ten of thousands of people had taken streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9, demanding an overhaul to the electoral system on grounds that the process is not transparent and often rigged.

The rally was led by Bersih 2.0, a coalition of more than 60 NGOs for clean and fair elections.

The government came down hard on both the organisers and supporters of the rally prior to the event, and has been accused of endorsing heavy-handed police action during the rally.

“I also wondered why those who went for the demonstrations were MPs, as though their freedom to voice their concerns about the EC in Parliament is stifled,” Nazri said after officiating the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Conference at a hotel here.

'Bewildered by MPs taking part in rally'

He said he is “bewildered”, as there were ample opportunities for elected representative to raise their qualms in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The people elected them and they can speak in Parliament. The government is for free and fair elections and we feel it has been free and fair. It’s as if the MPs were not allowed to speak about the EC in the Dewan Rakyat.

“What is free and fair elections for them? When they have won all the states?” asked Nazri, taking a swipe at critics from the opposition.

The EC currently is composed of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and five members, who are all appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consulting the Conference of Rulers.

During the Bersih 2.0 rally, a total of 1,697 people were nabbed for disobeying police orders against taking part in illegal rally.

Nazri said police have recorded all their statements and the investigation papers have been sent to the Attorney-General’s Chamber for further action.

‘Teoh Beng Hock report being published’

Asked whether the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock would be made public, Nazri said:

“I personally made recommendations to the cabinet to make it public and it was approved. The report is with the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government.”

NONE Nazri is not certain when the report would be released, but said that once published, it would be sold to members of the public at a fixed price.

He reiterated that the commission was formed under public pressure and there was no reason to keep it a secret.

On June 25, the five-member RCI panel submitted its 124-page report to the King, after collecting evidence from Feb 14 and ending its proceedings on May 18.

Teoh ( above ) was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor service corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned overnight at the Selangor headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at its 14th floor office.

Teoh was questioned as a witness on alleged irregularities into the disbursement of Selangor government funds by his employer, Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.

However, Ean Yong was cleared of any wrongdoing during the RCI proceedings

A coroner’s inquest into Teoh's death had returned an open verdict, leading to the government setting up the RCI to look into the circumstances of his death, as well as to evaluate MACC's interrogation procedures.

The RCI proceedings, which stretched over a period of four months, heard testimonies from 70 witnesses, and 19,200 notes of proceedings were recorded.

Asked what the recommendations of the RCI were and whether their recommendations would be implemented, Nazri said:

“The recommendations will be made known to the ministers once it is also made public and we will take it from there. However, I believe that the prime minister has been briefed on the report.”