Hear out EC first, PAS told

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS should not be hasty in rejecting the suggested use of biometric verification during elections.


The party should allow the Election Commission (EC) to explain the procedure to stakeholders before making its stand, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“It is typical of the opposition to reject a proposal outright, especially if it is supported by Umno without allowing others time to explain,” he said.

The EC, he said, was merely trying to improve the country's electoral process.

“Furthermore, the use of the biometric system is only one of the many measures the commission is taking to improve the election process,” he said after launching the “Schools in Hospitals” programme.

The programme is an initiative by Projek Hati Nurani under the Nurul Yaqeen Foundation. It is managed in collaboration with the education and health ministries.

Those present include Muhyiddin's wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, also the foundation chairman, and Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Friendly chat: Noorainee talking to a group of children at the KL Hospital after launching the ‘Schools in Hospital’ programme. Looking on are Muhyiddin and Liow.

Muhyiddin was responding to PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa's recent statement that the party rejected the proposed use of the biometric system, claiming it would not be effective in checking if a voter had voted more than once.

Husam added that PAS was firm on the use of indelible ink to prevent voting abuse.




Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently said the Government would provide funds for the EC to implement the biometric system to ensure transparency and counter allegations of phantom voters.

On another matter, Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, said his meeting with the coalition MPs on Monday night was to stress on the importance of helping to solve the people's problems.

Asked if his directive to the MPs was an indication the general election was around the corner, Muhyiddin answered in the affirmative, but was quick to add that the “corner can be near or far”.

“It cannot be that far away as we are approaching the deadline (referring to the term which ends in 2013). My job is to remind everyone that we have to focus on our job more,” he said.