PSC ON ELECTORAL REFORM IN KK, SABAH

THE PARLIAMENT Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reform will be in Kota Kinabalu for a two days visit on the 25th and 26th of November 2011 to listen to the various views and proposals made by the representatives of political parties, associations, societies and even individuals who have registered themselves with the committee.

The Election Commission (SPR) is under great public demand and also heavy pressure to conduct clean and fair election in Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak are the two important sectors where the PSC will put emphasis on.

The venue of the hearing will be in the Bilik Kedah, Kompleks Pentadbiran Persekutuan Sabah (Federal Administration Complex near UMS), Kota Kinabalu, and starting from 9.30 am for the two days.

The people in Sabah should take this golden opportunity to forward their views, demands, and suggestion on how the electoral reform can be achieved to bring about a clean and fair election system. All the views shall be complied and put forward for the Parliament to pass for amendment.

KK MP Hiew said the main items will be on the cheating, foul play, votes buying, candidates buying, dubious voters, cooling off period, campaign proceeding and ceramahs, polling agent and counting agents, election results announcement, postal voting system including witness by polling and counting agents, oversea Malaysians should be allowed to vote, use of indelible ink, MYcard readers, retired uniform personals and family still listed as postal voters, setting up of polling centre in Semenanjong to allow Sabahan and Sarawakian to vote etc..

This is just some general request that the PSC has to take note, but the more interesting one will be on the dissolution announcement of the Parliament or State assembly, this must be done with a three months notice. The three days ‘cooling off period’ is to be abolished to enable the SPR to have an early preparation of ballot papers and notices.

It is important that the many ‘Neo-Malaysian’, especially in Sabah to have a probation period of three years before they can be confirmed as a registered voters. This is for cutting off abuses and to create more dubious voters.

There are many other important points coming from the public to be forwarded to the attention of the PSC, therefore it is important that you can come forward to state your points. You can contact the Secretary of the PSC at 03-26017489 /03-26017199, Che Seman Pa Chik /Amisyahrizan Amir Khan, or fax your questions to 03-26986170/03-20317972, or e-mail to jkpilihanraya@parlimen.gov.my for further details.

- Sabahkini