Parliamentary Select Committee should be changed to Citizens Select Committee

Prime Minister Najib Razak's move to have a Parliamentary Select Committee comes at a time when citizens are questioning the integrity of the voting process which to date has displayed gross mismanagement by the Election Commission although it is supposed to be impartial and independent.

After such effort to demonize Bersih, it came as quite a surprise when the formation of the PSC was announced. His supporters rushed to praise the move, claiming that Najib was 'normal' again after a flirattion with hardline policies to please the right-winers in UMNO. Others saw it as yet another extension of his by-now infamous 'positive publicity' campaign - a 'looks good, sounds good but contains no good' diversionary tactic.

If initially, the PSC to review the election processes and laws in Malaysia was considered a step towards the demands of Bersih, it soon became clear that this was not so. If anything, the PSC looks to be the BN's model to usurp Bersih, which has become too influential and popular for the BN's comfort.

As the name suggests, the Parliamentary Select Committee will be composed of parliamentarians. So far, it has been announced that it would comprose 5 BN lawmakers, 3 Pakatan and 1 Independent, forming a committee of 9. To the Pakatan, the mix is unfair. It means they will be shut out and of the lot, they have the most interests at stake. For example, in the event of a vote, they will lose each time.

The next and most glaring flaw is that the PSC will comprise only parliamentarians when the biggest contributor to a voting process are the everyday citizens, the voters who cast their ballots, in other words, the stars of the show. Thus, it is a mystery how and where does the PSC engage the public in their review of the election process. And this is the biggest flaw in the PSC.

Najib's refusal to allow Bersih to participate in the PSC will surely be its downfall. After all, it was Bersih, a citizen’s movement that brought to light the problems within the election process in the country. It is even more hands-on with the problems that surround the system than the Election Commission, which has been to busy defending the BN to be objective or do a good job.

So far, despite evidence of phantom voters, illegal workers turned instant citizens, rigging of postal votes and sudden movement of voters to different polling stations without their prior knowledge, the EC and the Najib administration have steadfastly denied any discrepancy, insisting it was all the work of the diabolical Pakatan Rakyat.

But polemics aside, the fact remains that it is the citizens' constitutional right to vote that is in the spotlight and if the citizens are not allowed to be a part of the committee to review the voting process, then is it not a nonsensical process?

Citizens Select Committee

Instead of a Parliament Select Committee, it should be a Citizens Select Committee, which is very much in line with the “People First, Performance Now” mantra of Najib’s own 1Malaysia slogan.

A Citizens Select Committee would consist of those from the Bar Council, Bersih and Suhakam, to name a few. Such a move would directly engage the citizens in building a better Malaysia, uncontaminated by partisan politics and buffered against those who seek to desperately hold onto power. It should be headed by a personality who has no political agenda.

The creation of law still rests with the Parliament and as long as the House is held by a political entity bent on staying in power, the laws will continue to be skewed to its advantage.

So far, there is no firm assurance from Najib as to the power and authority of the PSC. Would the PSC have a strong say as to how the EC can improve itself? Will the EC be compelled to accept the findings of the PSC or can the EC refuse? Will the EC continue to assert that elections are fair and free in Malaysia even if the findings of the PSC say otherwise?

Finally, the central question - is the PSC merely a face-saving attempt by Najib to appease the people while at the same time diverting attention from the key issue, which is that elections in Malaysia have always been manipulated and were never truly free and fair.

- Malaysia Chronicle