Pakatan wants public inquiry into fraud cases as deadline passes

As the seven-day deadline for prime minister Najib Razak to call for an emergency parliamentary sitting passes, Pakatan Rakyat has demanded a public inquiry into the series of revelations of irregularities in the Election Commission's electoral roll, including non-citizens being registered as voters and discovery of foreigners being instant citizens.

At a press conference today, PAS’s Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub said the coalition would not compromise on the issue and stressed that Najib must call the emergency session instead of merely announcing a parliamentary select committee to review the electoral system.

According to Salahuddin, PR through a letter last week to minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz, had urged Najib to call for an emergency parliament sitting within seven days to address the exposes which have been extensively covered by online portals.

However, Najib, in a move widely seen as acceding to electoral reforms coalition Bersih 2.0’s demands, announced the setting up of a parliamentary select committee comprising of BN and PR members of parliament to review the country’s electoral system.

“This committee will discuss all the questions and issues raised about electoral reform so that a mutual agreement can be reached,” Najib said, stopping short of saying whether the electoral reforms would be implemented before the next general election widely expected to be called this year.

Salahuddin urged Najib not to divert from the real issue of non-citizens being registered as voters.

“Don’t run away from the basic issues which we regard as great treachery and abuse, especially involving the cases of permanent residents becoming instant citizens.

“We urge the prime minister to hold a public inquiry to meet the people across the country and gather evidences of fraud and irregularities that threaten the country,” he stressed.

On the formation of the special parliamentary committee, Salahuddin said it may not help to solve the mess in the electoral roll as well as abuses in the system which the EC had failed to answer.

“Can we allow foreigners to determine the country’s future?” he asked.

“This is the real issue which Najib fails to answer, instead he sidesteps it by announcing the special parliamentary committee which is not adequate to solve the big issue,” said Salahuddin.

He added that PR would not hesitate to bring the matter to the Agong and request for a royal commission of inquirty if Najib refused to hold a public inquiry.

Salahuddin also revealed that a meeting tomorrow to establish the special parliamentary committee had not been informed to PR.

“We don’t have any information. We also don’t know sort of committee. Who will lead this committee? It’s useless if it is like the existing parliamentary culture, where the government dominates and we become the minority,” he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim expressed shock for not being informed about the move.

“I contacted (PAS president Abdul) Hadi (Awang) and (DAP advisor Lim) Kit Siang, and none of us are aware about this. A select committee must be formed in Parliament and the opposition must be fully consulted.

“As the leader of the Opposition, I have not been informed of anything. Is the government going to put its men and turn it into a rubber stamp?" he asked.

- Harakahdaily