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PM proposes bipartisan panel for polls reform

Nigel Aw | Aug 15, 11 7:38pm
Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced today that the government will set up a parliamentary select committee to discuss electoral reforms before the next general election.

“Recently there have been demands for free and fair elections. The government’s response is that we will propose the setting up of a parliamentary select committee soon, which will be made up of members from both BN and opposition,” he said.

Najib said this in a speech at a ‘buka puasa’ event at the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

“The committee will discuss all electoral reforms that needs to be implemented in order to achieve bipartisan agreement without any suspicion that there is manipulation by the government,” he said.

Najib stressed that his administration will not form the government unless it is truly elected by the people.

“Don’t think that we do not want a clean process of electing the government, we are committed to the tradition of parliamentary elections,” he said.

Earlier, the premier pitched his father and former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein’s (right) legacy to highlight his commitment to parliamentary democracy.

“During May 13, my father was the chief of National Operations Council and he had absolute power. My father said to me that he was fearful of the power he had. I was in school then and could not understand him, but now in my position (as prime minister), I understand why absolute power is dangerous.

“It was fashionable in the 70s to continue with absolute power but my father returned power to the people through Parliament and elections,” he said.

DAP: Committee should be led by opposition

The announcement comes following more than a month of pressure on the government and the Election Commission (EC) after tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand electoral reform.

In an immediate reaction, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang hailed the move as a vindication of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 and the massive rally it organised on July 9.

“(To set up) a parliamentary select committee on electoral system (is the) first time Najib admits to gross electoral defects. Can Najib guarantee reforms in time for the 13th general election?” he said in a Twitter posting.

Lim added that the committee should be headed by an opposition MP with the full cooperation of the EC and relevant government departments.

However, the prime minister made no mention of the participation of civil societies in the committee as proposed by Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan.

13 Replies to “PM proposes bipartisan panel for polls reform”

  1. Is this too good to be true?
    This is the same PM who said that you can hold BERSIH 2.0 in a stadium. Is this a call for the Kampong headlines? Dont hold your breathe.
    Keep up the hard work for GE 13. Be prepared.
    Maybe the opponent has blinked.

    We need to change the tenant at PutrajayaNoy and GE 13 is our best chance. Failure is not an option.

  4. Najib is applying how to agree to disagree.
    He is using his father’s achievements to cover up all his low class leadership and politics.
    Planning a Committee comprising from Govt and Oppositions to look into the details of voters…indirectly submit to the demands of BERSIH 2 demands..a smart
    “agree to disagree” to please Malaysians.
    That’s what he thinks.
    No mention about including Ambiga…the one person most important into the said committee.
    Lets wait and see his next move.
    And EC Chief is being cornered by Ambiga…saying all 90 years old and above will be deleted!!!
    Adding …..blame on clerical errors…for double entries…and EC guys are all truthful fellas.
    Deleting shows he has power which in the past…he said otherwise.
    On the lighter side….poor Lee Chong Wei lost to Lin Dan in the final when he had chances to win it.
    This shows Lin Dan is rightfully the No:1 player in the world.
    I bet you…if Chong Wei view the replay….he will know his lost is of his own doing and not that Lin Dan is better than him..but the result is fact.
    Lets hope for Olympic Games.

  5. It is cheating for the Ali Baba and the more than 40 thieves…

    Last times, LKS also know two such committees on the project M and project IC which came to nothing and Dumpok ‘rewarded’ with a portfolio after no report on the panel…very sad,

    The earlier one was chaired by Maximus on similar issue where the BN cheating us maximium on the same issue of aliens… no report to show.

    In both meetings held in KK, I present papers but nothing to show by BN/UMNO.

    So this can go on.

    IGGG now with Joshua Y C Kong as PM..for the RCI on EC

  7. If it’s too good to be true, it is!
    That’s the advice to all to counter cheats and con-men!
    Remember, the stakes are too high for them to do
    anything that don’t guarantee their hold on Putrajaya!!
    The PR must go for Putrajaya in the next GE!
    There’s no other option.

  11. In EURO and AMERICA standard

    All those liars corrupted politicians already lock up with free nasi lemak

    Only Malaysia is still let those corrupted politicians running around in our government agencies administration cari a way to cheat our tax money with lie

    WHAT A SHAME to Malaysia standard?

  12. Najib of late must have a good look at the mirror and found his face value is not worth two cents…. an image of a master spnner! This lying politician has something up his sleeves, another deceiving attempt to tickle the rakyat. All this “exciting news” are fit only for the Belakan Alley users. How many times must a man be coned before he becomes wiser and comes to his senses?

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