INTERVIEW The government is considering asking Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof to resign in the wake of growing public criticism against him, a DAP MP has claimed.

NONE Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, who is also the party's political education director, claimed he has received information that the government is “considering forcing” Aziz to vacate his position.

"That is why he (Aziz) is appearing in the media (giving interviews)," Liew said during an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

He said so after being asked whether the spate of ‘Black 505' rallies nationwide that have been organised by the opposition is yielding its desired results.

Liew said that the fact that the government is considering letting Aziz go, is an indication that the public pressure generated through the rallies is bearing fruit.

NONE "If enough people turn up (for the rallies), the government needs to respond. Any public rally is a problem for the government," he said.

However, he stressed that Aziz resigning alone would not satisfy the demands of the opposition and some civil society movements.

"This is not enough, we want the deputy chairperson (Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, right ) to go as well, along with the five commissioners. And we want the new EC to be chosen by a parliamentary select committee, which is bi-partisan.

"We think that all seven of them should resign en bloc for failing to deliver a decently-run election," he said.

Aziz not going anywhere

The spate of public rallies have consistently called for heads to roll among the EC leadership, but Aziz ( left ) has shot down calls for resignation so far.

NONE However, in a text message to Malaysiakini today, Aziz refuted the allegation that there was a movement from within the government to force him to resign.

"The information is untrue," he said in a short message when asked to verify Liew's allegation.

This interview was conducted by Ram Anand, Lee Way Loon and Ahmad Fadli KC.

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