VIDEO l 6.27 min

Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that it is not justified to ask election commissioners to resign as they have fulfilled their objective of running an election.

Speaking to reporters after a forum organised by the Bar Council, he said the grouses raised are merely "technicalities" which do not warrant resignations.

NONE "We have a legitimate government. That is the ultimate objective, and the election was run smoothly.

"What else do you want? It's not fair to jump to conclusions because someone can wash the (indelible) ink off their finger. It's not as simple as that," he said.

Wryly, he added, "All qualified voters managed to vote, unless they were stopped by political parties who thought they looked Bangladeshi."

Wan Ahmad, who spoke at the forum on the issue of redelineation, stressed that the EC would not be able to nullify any election result unless it is instructed by the courts.

Redelineation cannot be delayed

Apparently puzzled by those demanding his resignation are mostly those who had won in their respective constituencies, he advised those disgruntled with the results to file election petitions.

"The people who are asking me to resign didn't lose. They won. The big names in the BN who lost, they didn't shout and scream. They say they are not happy and will file election petitions.

"The side who lost say they will accept, but the other side who won did not... Some of them are confused," he told reporters with a tinge of sarcasm.

   

Wan Ahmad also said the third demand made at the Black 505 protest rallies - the postponement of redelineation - was not feasible.

Speaking at the forum, he said the redelineation exercise had been postponed for two years already due to fear of snap polls.

He said the Federal Constitution provides that the exercise should happen at a minimum interval of eight years, and should finish two years after it commences.

"The Attorney General's Chambers has also advised us not to delay it as constituencies are growing in the number of voters and we cannot just close our eyes to that," he said.

He explained that the new proposed constituencies and borders will be displayed to the public twice and public hearings held before the final version goes to Parliament.

Stronger objections expected

However, Wan Ahmad said the EC is expecting much more objections this time around, including at the parliamentary level, due to stronger civil society groups and opposition bloc.

As such, he said, the EC is "a little bit worried" that the redelineation exercise will not be completed within the constitutionally mandated two years.

"It will be the job of the prime minister to get it passed. If the MPs see the necessity to have new constituencies, they should not vote along partisan lines," he said.

Changes to the electoral boundaries only require a simple majority in Parliament, but to create new seats will need two-thirds majority.

Wan Ahmad urged all registered voters at the forum to submit their objections if they do not agree with the new electoral boundaries.

He said that groups of at least 100 registered voters are qualified to submit objections, which will be heard at public hearings.

"When we say we are transparent, people laugh, but we display (redelineation proposal) twice and go up and down the Parliament, etc. What do you call that if not transparency?" he asked the mostly hostile audience.

He later told reporters that he attended the forum to explain the electoral process, "but not to be humiliated".