‘Implement electoral reforms before 13th GE’

PETALING JAYA: The government fell short of giving assurance that electoral reforms can be implemented before the 13th national polls, making yesterday’s vows to look into Bersih 2.0′s demands hollow, said DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister Nazri Aziz said the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) will have its working framework based on the eight demands made by the polls watchdog.

But when asked by reporters if the government would ensure PSC’s findings into the eight demands would be implemented before the next general election, Nazri said: “That is not my problem… I don’t know when the election will be held.”

Lim in a statement today said Nazri’s “lame” reply had subjected the panel’s credibility and purpose to public scepticism.

He said it also brings “back to the fore the question about the relevance and usefulness of the PSC, whether it is a genuine, sincere and serious government change of heart on electoral reforms”.

PSC major concession
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The decision to set up the PSC was seen as a major concession by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, especially after his government has vehemently defended the current election system and denied any allegations of abuse.

This denial was used to justify the action against Bersih 2.0 leaders and the harsh clampdon on the polls reform rally on July 9.

Najib came under heavy international condemnation for his action and weeks after, he announced his government’s readiness to set up the bipartisan panel to look into reforming the election system but denied it was an admission that the electoral process was flawed.

He also gave no assurance that reforms would be implemented before the 13th general election, which drew accusation that the PSC was merely a window-dressing exercise.

Nazri said yesterday the government had agreed to the panel’s framework after meeting with representatives from Parliament, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Election Commission (EC) but Lim said this further justified the scepticism over the panel’s intent.

“It does not escape notice that the EC chairman and his deputy attended the meeting in person and agreed to draft the framework for the PSC based on the eight demands of Bersih 2.0 when in the past few months they had been in the forefront attacking both Bersih 2.0 and the eight demands,” said Lim.

Cabinet should decide

Lim, the Ipoh Timur MP, urged the government to revoke the ban on Bersih and drop all charges against the 1,600 Malaysians arrested for taking part in the peaceful Bersih rally and consult with Pakatan Rakyat on PSC’s directions to prove its sincerity on electoral reforms.

The panel’s framework is expected to be finalised and submitted for Cabinet endorsement by Sept 7.
It will then be subject to approval by the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee before it is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

Nazri said he expects the motion to set up the PSC to be tabled when Parliament reconvenes on Oct 3.
However, Lim said the Cabinet tomorrow should decide what electoral reforms could be immediately implemented even before Parliament meets on Oct 3.

He said this will show that the move to set up the PSC was a “sincere, serious and genuine change of heart” and not a “political ploy”. - FMT