Published: Thursday September 13, 2012 MYT 11:03:00 PM

EC: Code of ethics for caretaker govt almost ready

KUALA LUMPUR: The code of ethics for a caretaker government prepared by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms will likely be used for the 13th general election, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (pic).

He said the code, which was being finalised, contained the "do's and don'ts" which must be adhered to not only by the caretaker government, but also all political parties, candidates, politicians and election agents.

The code was largely derived from the laws enshrined in the constitution and the Election Act, he told reporters after a panel discussion on the 'Dalam Radar Khas' programme over Bernama Radio24 here Thursday.

The other panel members taking part in the discourse on the 13th general election were MCA Central Committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker and Parti Keadilan Rakyat secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution.

Abdul Aziz said the code was also prepared after studying the conventions used in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

On postal votes for Malaysians abroad, he said the Attorney General's Chambers was still studying whether an amendment to the Election Act was needed before it could be implemented.

"It was also proposed that for a Malaysian abroad to be eligible to vote, he ought to have returned home and stayed in the country for at least one day within five years before the general election," he added.

However, he was disappointed, as only 2,400 Malaysians residing overseas had registered as voters.

At the outset, Abdul Aziz said the EC was 85 percent ready for the next general election and he hoped state assemblies would be dissolved simultaneously with the Parliament to save cost, time and manpower. - Bernama

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