On Monday, the Cabinet agreed to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to look into strengthening the law and regulations pertaining to the electoral process? This was announcedHERE. Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the Cabinet agreed the motion on the proposed PSC be tabled at October's parliamentary meeting. PSC would be headed by a minister and would consist of nine parliamentarians five from Barisan Nasional, three from the Opposition and an independent.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this move did not mean the current electoral practices are flawed or dirty. The PSC was set up to seek improvements in the interest of the people, to improve the process. With the establishment of the committee, any proposal or amendment to the existing Elections Act would be tabled during the first meeting of parliament next year.
According to Nazri, the Cabinet wanted the PSC to study various aspects, including:
Kota Belud MP, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, has applauded the proposed establishment of (PSC) on electoral reforms, saying that it would bring to a “close” the ongoing issue on clean and fair elections and said it is “the right decision and an answer to Bersih 2.0”.
In his latest article, Kee Thuan Chye said:
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has urged the government to reject the participation of Bersih 2.0 in the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms.According to Berita Harian, Wan Ahmad commented that the committee should only comprise MPs from various political parties, to prevent obstacles to the government's reform effort. "It is better that the committee is only joined by representatives elected by the people so that there will be no interference," he told the daily.
Malaysiakini compiled a list of comments from it readers HERE. One of them said:
Elizabeth Wong, Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman, said:
Lim Kit Siang welcomed the proposal as it is a vindication of the 709 Bersih rally for free and fair elections and apart from raising some concerns in his article, he also recommended that: BN fully consult and secure the agreement of the respective PR parties on important matters like the terms of reference, scope of review, time-frame and membership of the PSC and to ensure Bersih 2.0 should be fully involved in the PSC review and recommendations for electoral reforms. You can read more HERE.
In another post HERE, Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that Pakatan Rakyat allegations of foreigners being given the right to vote will be addressed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform. LKS expressed his concern that “passing the buck” to the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms of all allegations of a flawed electoral system such as foreigners given the right to vote is completely unacceptable and would be proof that the PSC is mere political ploy and diversionary tactics.
Why should this be the case. Shouldn’t serious allegations like the issue of citizenship to foreigners to give them the right to vote, which is a most treasonous action, be addressed and resolved immediately by the Election Commission, instead of deferring action and “passing the buck” to the parliamentary select committee which could only be formed in October?
LKS emphasized the need for an efficient and professional Election Commission that would report to the parliamentary select committee what measures it has taken to address.
He stressed that the EC should resolve the serious allegations of a flawed electoral system instead of “passing the buck” to the parliamentary select committee in October to start from scratch to deal with them.
So what is the purpose of the police force, immigration department etc? Shouldn't THEY be the ones to deal with the question of illegal immigrants. How can the PSC handle this serious issue? This is a national issue. which rightly requires a referendum because it is an issue that affects each and every Malaysian.
We have to share our public services with them - and those illegals are leeching on our schools, hospitals etc and now allegedly given the right to vote??? This cannot be a matter to be addressed by the PSC.
Clearly, it should not be just BN or Opposition leaders to be on the committee. Qualified professional Malaysians from all walks of life must be in the PSC to protect the interests of civil society.
One wonders if the announcement about the PSC was intended to deflect attention from the many 'issues' that have popped up lately? Some surmise it could be a ploy to hoodwink us into believing their sincerity in making all sorts of announcements. However, have there always been a thorough and systematic execution of ideas or have there only been episodes in the past when pipe dreams had no follow-through?
What the PSC should do is to provide us with new guidelines for the EC and to heed Bersih 2's demands for electoral reform which is also what we ordinary Malaysians want. Otherwise, why did tens of thousands of Malaysians take to the streets on 9 July, despite constant threats of outbreak of violence and how certain individuals were banned from entering KL?
On that day, our leaders should been out in full force to meet the people - the poor, the simple, the middle class and the handicapped - all who are sick and fed up of being lied to by their appointed leaders. Had you come and listened to us and agree to some of our requests (instead of being so fearful that you will lose the next Election if the EC were more honest and less fearful of you).
So is there really a necessity to have the PSC? One wonders, especially since we already have Bersih. If they find the name 'Bersih' offensive, then they can just change the name and the signature colour. Surely they cannot ban all the words in this world or all the colors that exist, unless they want us to live in a monochrome environment.
If indeed there are illegals who were given the right to vote in the next elections and the status quo remains, then there is no reason for celebration because they would know deep in their hearts that they got into seats of power NOT because of right-minded Malaysians but by those who have no right to be in this land, let alone vote!
So, is there a necessity to throw good money after bad?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this move did not mean the current electoral practices are flawed or dirty. The PSC was set up to seek improvements in the interest of the people, to improve the process. With the establishment of the committee, any proposal or amendment to the existing Elections Act would be tabled during the first meeting of parliament next year.
According to Nazri, the Cabinet wanted the PSC to study various aspects, including:
- the issue of using the biometric system and indelible ink
- rules pertaining to the nomination of candidates in the general election and by-elections.
- gathering views on measures to improve the electoral system via roadshows and public hearing
- campaigning methods
- advanced voting for those who can't vote on the actual date
- and whether to allow registered voters who are overseas to vote
Kota Belud MP, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, has applauded the proposed establishment of (PSC) on electoral reforms, saying that it would bring to a “close” the ongoing issue on clean and fair elections and said it is “the right decision and an answer to Bersih 2.0”.
In his latest article, Kee Thuan Chye said:
While it is still premature to say whether this will ensure effective participation by the Opposition in the process, it is nonetheless a radical change from his previous stubborn position against Bersih 2.0’s demands for free and fair elections.
As with much of Malaysian politics, there is probably more to all this than what appears on the surface. Najib must have been comforted by some assurance of electoral victory – and possibly a landslide one – before he would allow himself to accede to an initiative begun by Bersih 2.0. Otherwise, he would be seen to be weak by his own party, Umno, which no doubt would have players in the wings with knives behind their backs. Read more here.
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has urged the government to reject the participation of Bersih 2.0 in the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms.According to Berita Harian, Wan Ahmad commented that the committee should only comprise MPs from various political parties, to prevent obstacles to the government's reform effort. "It is better that the committee is only joined by representatives elected by the people so that there will be no interference," he told the daily.
Malaysiakini compiled a list of comments from it readers HERE. One of them said:
Bersih 2.0 already said they would not be in the parliamentary select committee (PSC) because they are not parliamentarians. Election Commission deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar should read the news first before responding.
By saying that Bersih will disrupt the workings of PSC, the EC shows itself to be prejudiced and unabashedly biased, especially with the Bersih demands being totally reasonable and unlikely be rejected by any right-thinking members of the society.
The EC should stop politicking and instead focus on the reforms it can implement right away - enforce Suhakam's recommendations, indelible ink, get the attorney-general, police and MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) to investigate and prosecute all cases of electoral irregularities, and put pressure on the national registry to clean up its records.
Elizabeth Wong, Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman, said:
“The committe has to be established in parliament which convenes on Oct 3, and it will take up to a year to release its findings.
“We hope that it is not a red herring. Najib should give a committment that the general election will not be called before the suggestions of the committee are implemented.”
Wong also said Najib’s announcement of the Parliamentary Select Committee showed that the demands of electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 had basis.
Lim Kit Siang welcomed the proposal as it is a vindication of the 709 Bersih rally for free and fair elections and apart from raising some concerns in his article, he also recommended that: BN fully consult and secure the agreement of the respective PR parties on important matters like the terms of reference, scope of review, time-frame and membership of the PSC and to ensure Bersih 2.0 should be fully involved in the PSC review and recommendations for electoral reforms. You can read more HERE.
In another post HERE, Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that Pakatan Rakyat allegations of foreigners being given the right to vote will be addressed by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reform. LKS expressed his concern that “passing the buck” to the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms of all allegations of a flawed electoral system such as foreigners given the right to vote is completely unacceptable and would be proof that the PSC is mere political ploy and diversionary tactics.
Why should this be the case. Shouldn’t serious allegations like the issue of citizenship to foreigners to give them the right to vote, which is a most treasonous action, be addressed and resolved immediately by the Election Commission, instead of deferring action and “passing the buck” to the parliamentary select committee which could only be formed in October?
LKS emphasized the need for an efficient and professional Election Commission that would report to the parliamentary select committee what measures it has taken to address.
He stressed that the EC should resolve the serious allegations of a flawed electoral system instead of “passing the buck” to the parliamentary select committee in October to start from scratch to deal with them.
So what is the purpose of the police force, immigration department etc? Shouldn't THEY be the ones to deal with the question of illegal immigrants. How can the PSC handle this serious issue? This is a national issue. which rightly requires a referendum because it is an issue that affects each and every Malaysian.
We have to share our public services with them - and those illegals are leeching on our schools, hospitals etc and now allegedly given the right to vote??? This cannot be a matter to be addressed by the PSC.
Clearly, it should not be just BN or Opposition leaders to be on the committee. Qualified professional Malaysians from all walks of life must be in the PSC to protect the interests of civil society.
One wonders if the announcement about the PSC was intended to deflect attention from the many 'issues' that have popped up lately? Some surmise it could be a ploy to hoodwink us into believing their sincerity in making all sorts of announcements. However, have there always been a thorough and systematic execution of ideas or have there only been episodes in the past when pipe dreams had no follow-through?
What the PSC should do is to provide us with new guidelines for the EC and to heed Bersih 2's demands for electoral reform which is also what we ordinary Malaysians want. Otherwise, why did tens of thousands of Malaysians take to the streets on 9 July, despite constant threats of outbreak of violence and how certain individuals were banned from entering KL?
On that day, our leaders should been out in full force to meet the people - the poor, the simple, the middle class and the handicapped - all who are sick and fed up of being lied to by their appointed leaders. Had you come and listened to us and agree to some of our requests (instead of being so fearful that you will lose the next Election if the EC were more honest and less fearful of you).
So is there really a necessity to have the PSC? One wonders, especially since we already have Bersih. If they find the name 'Bersih' offensive, then they can just change the name and the signature colour. Surely they cannot ban all the words in this world or all the colors that exist, unless they want us to live in a monochrome environment.
If indeed there are illegals who were given the right to vote in the next elections and the status quo remains, then there is no reason for celebration because they would know deep in their hearts that they got into seats of power NOT because of right-minded Malaysians but by those who have no right to be in this land, let alone vote!
So, is there a necessity to throw good money after bad?
- masterwordsmith
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