Azhar: EC not affected by vacancy of commissioners
The Election Commission (EC) is not affected by the vacancy of its commissioners, said chairperson Azhar Harun today.
According to him, the Eleventh Schedule, Item 33 of the Federal Constitution, clearly states that the powers of a body, or commission, shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership.
"This is the Federal Constitution we are talking about, not just any law, and we are operating well within the confines of the constitution," he told a press conference after chairing a meeting regarding the Semenyih by-election, in Putrajaya, this morning.
Azhar was responding to a question by Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa earlier today, on whether the current composition of the EC is in line with the constitution.
Article 114(1) of the constitution states the EC “shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consultation with the Conference of Rulers and shall consist of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and five other members", Annuar had said, further pointing out that at the moment, Azhar is the only one remaining.
The EC's deputy chairperson, namely Othman Mahmood, and five other commissioners - Md Yusop Mansor, Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Sulaiman Narawi, Leo Chong Cheong, and K Bala Singam - had resigned on Dec 31 last year.
The Semenyih state seat fell vacant after its assemblyperson Bakhtiar Mohd Nor of Bersatu, died last Jan 11.
Earlier, Azhar announced that a by-election to fill the seat will be held on March 2, with the nomination date fixed for Feb 16.
Early voting will be on Feb 26, while campaigning will last for two weeks.
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