It also wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into elections.
Bersih called on the new government to focus on restoring the independence and integrity of the EC, saying the present EC members had lost the confidence of the public and had failed in their duty to ensure clean, free, and fair elections, especially in the 14th general election (GE14).
“All seven EC members must resign immediately,” Bersih acting chairman Shahrul Aman Mohd Saari told reporters today.
If they refuse, Shahrul said, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad must take steps to remove them by recommending to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to act in accordance with Article 114(7)1 of the Federal Constitution – suspend and grant leave of absence to the chairman and deputy chairman of the EC, pending an investigation and full removal process; and in accordance with Article 114(3)2 and Article 125 of the Federal Constitution – appoint a tribunal to remove the EC.
Shahrul said while Mahathir was focused on resolving economic matters, parliamentary and electoral reforms were equally important.
“These two reforms must be done as soon as possible to restore the integrity and public confidence of both the Parliament and EC.
“Today, we submitted a detailed report, the Electoral Reform Action Plan (ER-AP), to the Council of Elders. This is the same report we submitted to the former government, which was ignored.
“We hope that this new government will prove that they are different and serious in ensuring these reforms take place,” he said.
Shahrul said Bersih also wanted an RCI on electoral conduct to be initiated and completed within six months.
“The RCI must investigate any possible criminal misconduct, fraud, or violation of election laws by any persons, including EC members, which happened before, during, and after GE14,” he said.
Likewise, he said, the RCI must inquire into the weaknesses and malpractices in Malaysia’s electoral system and processes, paving the way for reforms to take place.
He also called for the appointment of an interim EC.
“The prime minister must recommend to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to immediately appoint a new EC. The new EC will be on a two-year interim basis to institute electoral reforms before the next Sarawak state elections, due by 2021.
“The interim EC must consist of at least three representatives from civil society who have the necessary experience on electoral reform and command public confidence.
“These must be done as soon as possible as the country could be met with a by-election at any point in time. If that happens, and if these people (current EC) are still in charge, the by-elections will not be clean and fair,” said Shahrul when met by FMT.
Bersih had earlier submitted its ER-AP as a roadmap to assist the government and the EC in reforming the electoral processes and system in Malaysia.
The ER-AP proposal, based on Bersih’s cumulative study, consultations, and work in the past ten years on electoral reform, was handed over to the secretariat of the institutional reformation committee set up by the Council of Elders.
Bersih also said it would be watching to see whether the new government keeps its promises.