Bersih: Parties should only limit MP’s voting rights on confidence-supply matters

 

Electoral watchdog Bersih has urged any political parties intending to amend its constitutions to confine parliamentarians’ voting freedom to limit it to only confidence and supply matters.

Following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's signing of a memorandum of agreement with all parties in his government, which had raised concerns over limits imposed on an MP’s right to vote, Bersih said the government’s defeat in major legal and even constitutional bills must not be seen as an expression of no-confidence in the government.

“Otherwise, parties can force their will on their parliamentarians in the pretext to avoid a no-confidence vote against the government,” said the Bersih steering committee.

In a statement, Bersih said it looks forward to meet Anwar and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said for further discussions on efforts to strengthen multiparty democracy and parliament.

Among the best practises recommended by Bersih include for the membership and chair of Parliamentary Special Select Committees (PSSC) to be allocated across coalition parties based on the number of backbenchers, and not its overall representation.

“Allocation based on the number of all MPs unfairly over-represents parties with many ministers,” said Bersih, adding that the selection of PSSC members among MPs should take into account individual interest and expertise.

“The chair and vice-chair must come from different sides of the political divide, one from the government bench and one from the opposition bench, to ensure check and balance within the committees.

“Both the PSSC chairs and vice-chairs should also be reasonably paid with additional allowances as committees are expected to operate all year long, even when Parliament is in recess,” said Bersih.

Bersih added while it welcomed the government’s commitment for each ministry to be scrutinised by a PSSC, each committee must be made in charge of only one portfolio to ensure efficiency.

Overall, Bersih said party-based negotiation in government formation and making coalition agreement public are two of the 10 proposals to stabilise post-GE15 politics it had made on Nov 19.

However, it noted that any compromise made among coalition partners must be limited to what is necessary to not result in dangerous executive dominance.

Aside from Anwar, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, and Warisan president Shafie Apdal were present at the signing ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on Friday.

Several lawmakers such as Perikatan Nasional’s Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and Harapan’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim have voiced concerns about potential issues concerning the agreement.

Mas Ermieyati claimed that the agreement was a prelude to dictatorship, adding that it was also illegal, dangerous, and unenforceable.

On the other hand, Hassan said he will be voting for Anwar despite concerns over how the MOU can be “weaponised” against an MP’s free will to exercise their support. - Mkini