Polls panel can’t meet all Bersih demands, says Ongkili

By Shannon Teoh

March 22, 2012

Ambiga (waving) said Bersih may be forced to hold another rally to address the lack of progress on electoral reforms. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — The parliamentary select committee on electoral improvements cannot meet all of Bersih’s demands as some matters required a longer-term solution, its chairman Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said.

The electoral reforms movement had warned last week it will hold a third mass rally due to lagging polls reform and more reports of electoral fraud recently.

But Ongkili told reporters today only six of the eight demands by the coalition of 62 NGOs will be addressed in the panel’s report he said is likely to be ready by the end of next week.

“It is impossible for us solve all problems. Some things in the report will be there for younger MPs to take up in the future,” the minister of science, technology and innovation said when met after today’s committee meeting.

He said certain issues required new legislation, which must be passed by Parliament over time.

“Things like a non-partisan media, what can I do?” he said.

Bersih has said its eight demands are the bare minimum that must be done before an election that must be called by May next year.

The movement’s chairman, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, told The Malaysian Insider last week “a long time” has passed since the July 9, 2011 rally but Malaysians have yet to see significant electoral reforms implemented.

The bipartisan panel was formed last year to address concerns over the country’s election system after the Najib administration drew international condemnation for its handling of the Bersih 2.0 rally.

“Looking at the way things are going now, we may have no choice [but to hold another rally],” the former Bar Council president said.

Tens of thousands took to the streets on July 9 , last year to join Bersih 2.0’s rally for free and fair elections but were dispersed by police in chaotic scenes that saw over 1,500 arrested, scores injured and the death of an ex-soldier.

Under pressure, the government then promised a slew of reform measures, which included the formation of the select committee and the enactment of the highly-criticised Peaceful Assembly Act last year.