Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak vows to reform Election Commission
Najib said a special, bipartisan parliamentary committee would be set up to oversee the commission, which is in charge of running elections, to "strengthen public confidence" in it.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday announced he would reform the nation's Election Commission amid opposition allegations that recent polls were tainted by fraud.
But poll-reform activists said the proposal was a "band-aid remedy for fixing a huge wound" and called for the body's leadership to resign, claiming they were biased towards the 56-year ruling coalition.
Najib said a special, bipartisan parliamentary committee would be set up to oversee the commission, which is in charge of running elections, to "strengthen public confidence" in it.
"I understand that sections of the public want to see our election processes strengthened. I am announcing these improvements to our electoral system in the spirit of unity and national reconciliation," he said in a speech to mark the Malaysian king's birthday.
He gave no further details.
Senior opposition politician Lim Kit Siang said the move was a "step in the right direction" but lacked details. He added that the commission's top officials must resign if the body "is to command full public confidence".