'Clean and fair election requires overhaul'

Pakatan Rakyat said an overhaul of the existing system was needed in order to have clean and fair elections.

At a joint press conference of PR leaders, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang said while it was good to have the indelible ink rule, it was still a long way before clean and transparent elections could be guaranteed.

“(We need) the total clean-up of the election system, not only by having the indelible ink. It must also include the cleansing of electoral roll, media freedom, efficient election management and revamp of postal voting. If there’s nothing done on these, then there will be no clean election,” stressed the Marang member of parliament.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim meanwhile said PR was still sceptical about the government’s promise for electoral reforms especially in regards to the electoral roll.

“We have urged that voters’ lists be cleaned. We are still suspicious of the present process because there is last minute change to the electoral roll,” he said.

At the press conference, Anwar also announced that PR's third convention themed ‘Clean-up Malaysia’ will be held in Alor Setar on 13 and 14 January, 2012.

Among the agenda of the convention were issues concerning students, the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings at Bursa Malaysia this April and the new civil servant salary scheme (SBPA).

“We will also deliberate on the joint manifesto for the three parties under Pakatan Rakyat’s manifesto to face the 13th general election,” added Anwar.

-Harakahdaily