Pakatan Rakyat will not lend its support to the bipartisan oversight committee on the Election Commission (EC) until the current members resign.

NONE "Pakatan will not participate in any cooperation and efforts to improve (the) credibility of (the) EC or  amending of any electoral law until and unless a new commission is appointed," PKR vice-president Tian Chua said in a statement today.

Pakatan's support for the panel, Tian Chua said, would be contingent upon the addressing of alleged fraud in the 13th general election concluded on May 5.

"Re-election must take place in all parliamentary and state constituencies said to have been won by fraud, after all necessary evidence is provided," he added.

Last Saturday, national news agency Bernama reported Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s announcement that the EC would be placed under a special bipartisan oversight committee. No details were provided.

NONE Tian Chua said the EC has thus far has ignored the people's voice against tainted general elections by way of mass protests and providing evidence of alleged foul play during GE13.

He noted that it "is clear enough" that the current EC “has aided the (BN) to maintain (its) win”.

"The rakyat have had enough of the tricks the EC has been playing and have clearly voiced unhappiness with previous elections.

"I urge the EC to listen to the call of the rakyat and resign immediately, before the rakyat choose to show who has the ultimate say."

Backing the coalition's pre-condition for EC commissioners to first resign, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim told a press conference later that the proposed committee could be an attempt to distract the opposition.

NONE He said this had been done with the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform.

"When the PSC was set up after Bersih 2.0, it deliberated at length. It included three (of our MPs as representatives) who worked hard to reform the EC.

"But they (the government) lied to us. (In the end), there was no independent media access (or) cleaning of the electoral roll. The only thing done was the (use of) indelible ink and (they lied) even (about that because it could be removed).

"Do not use this (bipartisan committee) to deflect attention from the fraud (or to delay measures) to address (this)."

'Don't boycott committee'

Housing and Local Government Minsiter Abdul Rahman Dahlan urged the opposition not to boycott the special committee as it is intended to serve the interests of the nation.

NONE He reminded Pakatan not to play politics with the issue, since it has been the coalition's demand to place the EC under the supervision of Parliament.

"They need to take this opportunity, together with the government, to ensure that the EC is credible and doesn't give all sort of excuses," he told Sinar Harian .

Umno Puteri chief Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin also said she hopes the announcement will not be politicised.

"This step should be seen positively and rationally, not from the angle of emotion and perception," she told the Malay daily.

"The formation of the committee, consisting of both sides, will enable it to oversee the EC."

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