Understand task, laws protecting GE workers

Election officers, especially the frontliners, must understand their duties and the laws protecting them, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

He said, the returning officer, assistant returning officer and the head of the election campaign team, being the EC's front line, had to face the voters and the problems on the ground during the coming 13th General Election (GE).

"Do not be afraid to carry out your duties although the general election can be hot, tough and very challenging," he said, adding, he understood that there were general election workers who withdrew for fear of their safety.

"The frontliners must also be independent and the EC will terminate their services if they were biased towards any political party," he told a media conference after opening a briefing here today.

Abdul Aziz said, claims that the GE would be the dirtiest should not arise, with 18 innovations resulting from suggestions of all quarters.

"I want to say there are no phantom voters in the EC electoral roll, all voters are valid and had undergone the process of registration," he added.

He said, complaints could be made using the right channels and legal provisions if there were 'incorrect' matters during the GE.

Earlier in his speech, Abdul Aziz said, the EC was trying to get earlier appointments of the GE's returning officer, assistant returning officer and the head of enforcement.

This was to enable them to carry out their duties earlier and avoid problems cropping up, especially relating to approvals and results of postal votes, he said.

"Previously, the appointments began after Parliament was dissolved and after the meeting of the EC. This resulted in too short a time to carry out the special tasks on the postal votes."

Abdul Aziz also denied allegations that EC was at the beck and call of certain parties, stressing that it was a neutral body.

"Nobody can direct EC to do this and that..definitely not the prime minister and deputy prime minister. The EC has no secret agenda to ensure a win for certain quarters (in the general election)," he said.