Putrajaya had announced the setting up of the tribunal on Octber 17 last year to seek the removal of the six former EC members. — Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — The special tribunal set up to investigate alleged election offences of six former Election Commission (EC) members will not go forth with their probe, after announcing a majority recommendation that deemed the matter in question was academic.
The recommendation was presented by tribunal chairman and retired Federal Court Judge, Tan Sri Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong who said the objective of the tribunal to seek the removal of the six members was already met with their early retirement this year that was consented by the Yang DiPertuan Agong.
“The fundamental question today is this; is it in public or national interest to spend so much time, energy, and expense in going through potentially the whole cumbersome and objective exercise merely to seek the removal of the six commissioners, but they have already removed themselves whether voluntary or otherwise from the Election Commission.
“The answer in my view is obvious; I find no good in the public interest, it would be an exercise in futility,” said Shim.
Putrajaya had announced the setting up of the tribunal on Octber 17 last year to seek the removal of the six former EC members.
Five of the EC commissioners — Tan Sri Othman Mahmood, Datuk Md Yusop Mansor, Datuk Abdul Aziz Khalidin, Datuk Sulaiman Narawi and Datuk Leo Chong Cheong — then resigned the following day.
The last remaining commissioner, Datuk K. Bala Singam, resigned on November 27.
All their resignations took effect on January 1 this year.
The six were being probed after thirteen charges were framed against them six, over their roles in preparing a controversial redelineation report and the manner in which GE14 was conducted.
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