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Friday, November 18, 2011

Amanah moots caretaker government system

Amanah, a new pressure group within BN, has proposed a caretaker government system to ensure the neutrality of government departments and agencies during polls.

NONEIn a statement yesterday, the group’s deputy president, Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, said the present practice had allowed BN to abuse government machinery during polls.

“The present practice by the government to fully use government and semi-government departments and their financial allocations to help BN surely goes against the core prerequisite for a free and fair election,” said the former tourism minister.

By convention, members of a caretaker government cannot use government machinery or funds for political advantage, especially during electoral campaigning.

This was among six proposals raised by Amanah for the improvement of the electoral system which is being reviewed by a parliamentary select committee (PSC) headed by Maximus Johnity Ongkili.

The five other proposals are:

  • Full freedom for the formation of political parties consistent with the federal constitution.
  • Ensuring integrity of electoral rolls and preventing foreigners from being approved as citizens in return for their votes.
  • Ensuring the right to assembly and campaign freely.
  • Ensuring fair access to mainstream media and loosening restrictions on setting up new newspapers, and radio and television stations.
  • Complete banning of vote-buying during election campaign.
Kadir said that these were some Amanah’s initial recommendations after discussions among the group’s members and the public.

He said the recommendations would be formally communicated to the PSC.

‘No polls until PSC finishes work’

Amanah is the brainchild of former finance minister and long-time Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

azlanOther prominent BN leaders who are Amanah members include former MCA president Ong Tee Keat and former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam.

Meanwhile, Kadir said Amanah must ensure that the general election cannot be held until the PSC completes its work and that their recommendations be fully implemented.

“These sincere actions will put the government in good stead and earn the respect and appreciation not only of the Malaysian citizenry but also from the international community,” he said.

He added that there appears to be a robust and free debate on the improvement of the electoral system and there has been good suggestions made even by BN MPs.

“Amanah welcome this new mood and freedom,” he said.

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