Polls reform: DAP wants emergency meeting

DAP has expressed shock that the PSC will meet tomorrow when Pakatan parties have yet to be consulted.

PETALING JAYA: DAP has called for an emergency parliamentary meeting to establish the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms (PSC) that was announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

The bipartisan panel on poll reforms is meant to be an attempt to clear up any suspicions of manipulation by the government in the country’s electoral process.

The surprise announcement has been welcomed by DAP but news that the committee – comprising BN and Pakatan Rakyat members – will hold its first meeting tomorrow has sent shockwaves through the party.

DAP advisor, Lim Kit Siang, in a statement today questioned the plausibility of this first meeting when the PSC hasn’t yet been formed and the respective Pakatan parties yet to be consulted on the matter.

Lim pointed out that a PSC can only be formed by Parliament which would sit again on Oct 3 for the start of the 2012 budget meeting. He therefore called for an emergency meeting of the August house to approve the PSC’s establishment.

“The BN government should not act unilaterally in establishing the PSC but fully consult and secure the agreement of Pakatan parties on important matters like the terms of reference, scope of review, time-frame and membership of the PSC,” he said.

“Bersih 2.0 should also be fully involved in the PSC review and recommendations for electoral reforms.”

Lim also pressed Najib to assure full co-operation by the Elections Commission (EC) and all relevant departments for the PSC as well as guarantee full access to information at government departments.

He then brought up the fate of the previous PSC on integrity which was set up by former prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“Although Abdullah agreed with its formation, the committee met hostile reception from government departments when they were asked “sensitive” information,” he recalled. “This resulted in the chairman’s resignation and no report when Parliament was dissolved in February 2008.”

“This time Najib must give categorical assurance that the PSC’s report and recommendations will be completed, made public and implemented by the government and Parliament in time for the next general elections.”

A victory for the people

DAP Youth meanwhile hailed the PSC as an early victory and an indication that the Najib administration had no choice but to bow to the people’s call for clean and fair elections.

DAP Youth chief, Anthony Loke, also backed Lim’s call for an emergency Parliamentary sitting and proposed that it take place before Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Aug 30 and 31.

“Bersih’s eight demands must act as the terms of reference for the set up of the PSC and it must be given three months to carry out the work,” Loke said.

“Najib has to give his word that he will not dissolve Parliament until these recommendations for a clean and fair elections have not been adopted.”