Response From Bersih 2.0 To The Recommendations Of The Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform has formulated 22 recommendations to improve the electoral system in Malaysia.

Overall, BERSIH 2.0 notes that many of the recommendations involve the Election Commission implementing the proposed reforms or undertaking further study into various matters, and reporting back to a Parliamentary Select Committee to be established to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

This has 2 obvious drawbacks. Firstly, it relies on the existing Election Commission carrying out these recommendations. Time and again, the existing Election Commission has shown itself to be incapable or unwilling to initiate reforms of the electoral system. We question whether the existing Election Commission has sufficient credibility to commit itself to undertaking the proposed recommendations.

Secondly, BERSIH 2.0 is of the belief that many of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee can be immediately implemented. We do not see the need to provide for a lengthy implementation period. We reiterate that BERSIH 2.0 has demanded that reforms should be implemented BEFORE the 13th General Elections are held.

We note that while some recommendations do provide for a time-frame to report back, many others do not. The lack of a time-line merely prolongs the dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in the electoral system, and adds to the frustration of the rakyat.

Specifically, BERSIH 2.0 would make their initial response to the 22 recommendations as follows:-

1. OVERSEAS VOTERS

The main proposal, namely to allow overseas voters to vote, should be immediately implemented. The right to vote should be unconditional, and any imposition of conditions would be unconstitutional.

BERSIH 2.0, Tindak Malaysia and Malaysian Overseas Voter have submitted detailed proposals as to how voting for overseas Malaysians may be carried out, and we do not see the need for further study on this matter as it will only serve to delay implementation. If the Election Commission is unable to handle the voting by Malaysians living abroad, civil society organisations are prepared to do it on the Election Commission's behalf, so long as they are adequately resourced financially.

Provisions already exist to allow Malaysians living overseas to register as voters. Malaysian missions abroad should be immediately instructed to receive such applications, and to comply with a standardised procedure that needs to be urgently clarified.

2. POSTAL VOTING FOR ELECTION COMMISSION STAFF AND THE MEDIA

The current categories of permissible postal voters in respect of those living within Malaysia – police/military personnel and their spouses, staff of the Election Commission – should be re-classified as advance voters. Advance voters should only be allowed to vote in the constituencies in which they are registered by the Election Commission and gazetted.

BERSIH 2.0 and Tindak Malaysia have suggested that the category of advance voters should be extended to election candidates, election agents, polling agents, counting agents, booth observer and candidates' nominees on the Election Commission enforcement teams.

Personnel on duty at polling stations should come from a mix of Election Commission staff and members of civil society/the public resident in that constituency.

We do not agree that members of the media enjoy the right to be registered as postal or advance voters.

It is noted that the question of the integrity of the postal vote system has not been thoroughly examined. The postal vote system has in the past created a great amount of suspicion. One would have thought that it is best for transparency that the categories of advance voters and postal voters be reduced, not increased.

3. DISTANCE VOTING

We are in favour of distance voting. The logistics relating to distance voting are not too difficult provided there exists the requisite political will.

BERSIH 2.0 and Tindak Malaysia have already submitted proposals and logistical solutions to the issue of distance voting, via the Second Memorandum to the Parliamentary Select Committee, on 21 March 2012. We do not see the need for further study. The provisions to permit distance voting can be implemented once the relevant regulations are amended. Our Second Memorandum already contains the draft amendments to the existing regulations.

4. PRE-REGISTRATION OF CITIZENS AS VOTERS ON REACHING THE AGE OF 20 YEARS

We are of the view that this is not necessary. Focus instead should be placed on automatic registration of voters when they reach the age of 21. Attention should also be paid to our proposal to reduce the qualifying age for voting to 18 years.

5. DATE OF DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT

We are of the view that in a functioning democracy, provision has to be made for circumstances in which the government of the day may lose a motion of no confidence. Introducing provisions that Parliament can only be dissolved after the completion of at least 4 years of a 5-year term of office may lead to an unpopular government being allowed to cling onto power.

6. CARETAKER GOVERNMENT

We wholly support the concept of a caretaker government, but do not feel that this is within the ambit of the Election Commission. There must be political consensus on the aim of implementing the concept of a caretaker government – to achieve political neutrality during the election campaign period, with no new spending commitments, no new projects announced. There will also have to be political agreement on its composition

7. ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING REGULATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFENCE OF GIVING FALE INFORMATION IN REGISTRATION MATTERS

All the necessary information to be provided during the registration of new voters or registration of a change of address should be based on the particular contained in the MyKad or the relevant change of address notification issued by the National Registration Department. There is no need for any additional information.

We are more concerned about what has not been addressed by the Parliamentary Select Committee, which is more critical, namely the existence of false and duplicate identities within the database of the National Registration Department. This raises questions about the integrity of the National Registration Department's database, upon which the Election Commission relies.

8. EXTENDING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD

We have called for a minimum campaign period of 21 days.

In determining the minimum campaign period, consideration must be given to the number of days required in order to allow an overseas voter to receive his/her ballot paper, mark it, and return it by post to the Returning Officer of his/her voting constituency before 5pm on election day. Any campaign period less than the number of days required for this to be reasonably undertaken would make a mockery of the right of overseas voters to cast postal ballots. This should be one of the minimum criteria to determine the length of the campaign period.

A decision on the campaign period, which we would remind is something that is decided by the Election Commission, should also take into consideration the provision of sufficient time for election candidates to disseminate their election messages to the electorate and for the voter to consider the issues.

The argument of the costs associated with a prolonged election campaign period is a false one. The bulk of the labour costs of carrying out an election is not dependent on the length of the campaign period. Such costs would be incurred on polling day itself, however long or short the campaign period is. Other fixed costs would remain unchanged, and so are also not dependent on the length of the campaign period.

In any event, elections are of sufficient importance that the cost of carrying one out should not be a primary consideration.

The costs incurred by political parties and election candidates should not be a consideration. Where candidates are concerned, existing regulations already prescribe financial limits for election campaign-related expenditure.

9. FREE AND EQUITABLE MEDIA ACCESS

There should be fair and equitable coverage of the election campaign of candidates and political parties, and no biased reporting. This recommendation can and must be implemented immediately. There must be a public commitment by the relevant Ministry that this be done. We are pleased that the Parliamentary Select Committee has made reference to Article 115(2) of the Federal Constitution and has called upon the Election Commission to exercise their power under these provisions.

10. ON-GOING MONITORING OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL

Currently the postal voter roll is separate from the principal electoral roll. This should be unified so that duplication of electors cannot arise.

The work done by MIMOS in electronically interrogating the electoral rolls has been too simplistic, resulting in minimal errors being identified. It appears that only a comparison of the 12-digit MyKad numbers was carried out.

The testing of the data requires more thorough and detailed parameters. For example, testing should be done to see if there is a duplication of the old NRIC numbers. Testing should also be done to search for identical names, and a high degree of matching of the 12-digit MyKad numbers to eliminate for possible duplicate registrations.

For police and military personnel, the 12-digit MyKad numbers and the numbers of military or police identity card should also be listed to check for possible duplicate registrations. This does not appear to have been done either.

Postal addresses should be complete. It is the duty of the Election Commission to ensure that all data are comprehensively entered. We are disturbed that the Election Commission has cited clerical errors to explain away discrepancies in the electoral roll. Entry checking by 2 separate personnel should have been undertaken to eliminate clerical errors. Physical site verification of addresses of new voters should also have been carried out.

Minor variations in how postal addresses are entered into the database have also led to duplicate registration of electors.

The monitoring of the work of the Election Commission with respect to the electoral rolls should be performed by an independent audit committee.

It is disappointing that the Parliamentary Select Committee has not addressed its mind fully to the instances of fraud that have been highlighted publicly to-date. The Election Commission ought to have been taken to task over this and immediate steps must be taken to address this vital issue. As it stands, BERSIH 2.0 is of the view that we cannot proceed to the 13th General Elections based on this electoral roll.

11. INSPECTION OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL FOR ADDRESSES WITH MULTIPLE ELECTORS

We question why inspection should only begin for addresses that have more than 50 registered electors. Since this inspection is undertaken in order to identify addresses with multiple electors, inspection could just as easily start for addresses with more than 11 electors. More work would have to be done, but as the intention is to identify addresses for further investigation, a lower number would generate more addresses for which electors may be verified.

There is no need to allow for a period of 45 days to complete such investigations. A period of 21 days would suffice.

12. OBJECTIONS TO VALIDATED ELECTORAL ROLLS

The Chief Registrar already has adequate discretionary power under Regulation 25 of the Registration of Electors Regulations to cause the registration of suspicious electors to be investigated even after the electoral rolls have been validated. There is no need to study the granting of additional powers.

13. STUDYING AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION

We have called for the automatic registration of electors upon their attaining the age of 21 years. There is no reason for any delay in implementing this. If the government is of the view that an amendment to the Federal Constitution is required in order to achieve this, this can be speedily accomplished if there is sufficient support for this proposal from all political parties represented in Parliament.

14. UTILISATION OF AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ADDRESS ON THE IDENTITY CARD TO DETERMINE A PERSON'S ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCY

This deals with the question of which constituency a person should vote in, in cases where a person does not reside at the address contained in his MyKad.

BERSIH 2.0 and Tindak Malaysia have already proposed solutions to the Parliamentary Select Committee on this issue, namely the various alternatives of advance voting, distance voting and postal voting for overseas Malaysians. Instead of adopting the solutions offered, the Parliamentary Select Committee appears to be skirting the issue.

The decision on which constituency a voter should be registered in must be based on the address shown on the MyKad or on any change of address notified to the National Registration Department.

Apart from advance voting, distance voting and postal voting, BERSIH 2.0 and Tindak Malaysia have suggested that an elector may register with the Election Commission his or her choice of which polling station at which to vote, so long as it is a polling station within the same constituency. In cases of large geographical constituencies, this may make it easier for a person to cast his or her vote, rather than having to return to the polling station nearest the registered residential address.

15. STRENGHTENING THE POSITION OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION

Members of the Election Commission must enjoy public confidence, and must be able to ensure that elections are carried out in a free and fair manner. In the event that they cease to enjoy public confidence, they should resign or be removed.

The Election Commission supervises the election of members of Parliament and state legislative assemblies. As such, the Election Commission should be independent of Parliament. The Election Commission should have and manage its own budget, which should not be scrutinised by Parliament, but audited by the Auditor-General.

There should be a committee comprising non-politicians charged with the responsibility of receiving nominations for membership of the Election Commission and which would make recommendations to the Yang DiPertuan Agong. Past and present members of political parties and serving or retired civil servants should not be eligible to be nominated as members of the Election Commission. The non-involvement of the Prime Minister in the appointment process should be emphasized in order to ensure that the Election Commission is independent.
16. STRUCTURING AND STRENGTHENING OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION

A detailed study of the human resource capacity and performance of the Election Commission is needed before any recommendation of an increase in its staff numbers can be accepted.

In any event, if the recommendation to separate the 3 main functions of the Election Commission is accepted (see item 18 below), then the number of Election Commission staff could actually be reduced, rather than increased. We are deeply alarmed by reports that there has been an increase in the number of staff of the Election Commission by 100,000 people, to 240,000. This in itself is a sizeable block of postal voters that gives cause for grave concern.

The staffing of the Election Commission should be independent of government. The Election Commission should have its own funding, staff and salary scheme.

17. WIDENING THE WORK OF THE ELECTIONS ACADEMY

Although the Election Academy has been in existence since 2007, there is no evidence of active voter education programmes carried out by the Election Commission. On the other hand, civil society organizations have been active and have taken the lead in voter education.

It would be preferable if the government provides funding for civil society to continue with their voter education programmes, instead of continuing with the Elections Academy.

18. SEPARATION OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION

We concur with the recommendation that the 3 main functions of the Election Commission be separated and distributed to 3 separate bodies.

19. DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE STATES OF SABAH AND SARAWAK

This issue should be deferred until the Royal Commission of Inquiry has completed its investigations and delivered its findings into the systematic abuse of the granting of citizenship to foreigners, otherwise known as "Project IC", in Sabah.

20. BALANCED ELECTORAL DELINEATION

Each electoral constituency should consist of approximately the same number of population. There should no longer be any need for any rural weightage in this day and age. The principle of "one person one vote" should be upheld without exception.

21. PROVISION OF FUNDING TO POLITICAL PARTIES

Election funding to political parties should be provided based on the proportion of the popular vote obtained by each political party in the previous general election. Political parties should not be allowed to utilize any other funding for an election campaign.

22. NEW ELECTORAL SYSTEM

We agree that studies should be carried out on alternative electoral systems.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

BERSIH 2.0 is disappointed that the following key issues were not with dealt with at all or were not dealt with in sufficient depth:-

(a) The instances of manipulation of the electroral roll by removing names, changing polling station boundaries, and other such obvious discrepancies. A thorough study ought to have been conducted into the processes of the Election Commission and the National Registration Department.

(b) No reference whatsoever is made in the report about foreigners being given citizenship for their vote in Semenanjung Malaysia. Whilst the problem is acknowledged to exist in Sabah, there is no reference to Semenanjung Malaysia, where the issue is also of relevance.

(c) Nothing is said in the Parliamentary Select Committee's report about election offences and the enforcement of the Election Offences Act 1954 as it now stands. There ought to also have been a study into the types of such offences being committed, and recommendations on how to prevent them. Although there is a suggestion that the Election Commission be given more powers to deal with such issues, the Parliamentary Select Committee does not seek to identify the problems and the clear infringements of the Act.

(d) There is no mention of how to stop dirty politics save for a reference to a Code to be drawn up in relation to a Caretaker Government. In fact there ought to be a code of conduct in relation to all candidates and political parties. An example of such a code of conduct, from India, was given by BERSIH 2.0 to the Parliamentary Select Committee.

(e) There is no reference to the inviting of International Observers. Malaysia was recently invited to send election observers to observe the recenty-concluded by-elections in Myanmar. On a previous occasion Malaysian observers were invited to observe the general elections in Thailand. If we subscribe to and endorse the principle of having international observers by our participation in such missions, then Malaysia's reticence in inviting international observers is wholly inexplicable.

(f) We are shocked at the manner in which the Parliamentary Select Committee's report was received and adopted by the Dewan Rakyat on 3 April 2012, without any debate. Further, we deplore the decision by the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat not to permit the inclusion of a Minority Report together with the Parliamentary Select Committee's report. The continued lack of respect of contrary views bodes ill for the development of a strong and vibrant Parliamentary democracy in Malaysia. The fact that there was no debate on the Parliamentary Select Committee's report suggests that the majority in Parliament are none too concerned about the nature and extent of fraud and other irregularities in connection with the electoral rolls and the conduct of elections in Malaysia. The majority in Parliament do not appear to appreciate the need to strengthen the electoral process in Malaysia.

(g) Given thus, BERSIH 2.0 is of the view that it is highly likely that the electoral fraud and other irregularities that are currently being perpetrated in Malaysia, and which have been and continue to be the concern of decent, fair-minded and peace-loving Malaysians, will continue unabated. A golden opportunity to right the wrongs and do something good for the benefit of Malaysians now and in the future has sadly been missed.

Salam BERSIH 2.0

Steering Committee, Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Dr Farouk Musa, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato' Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato' Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

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Penyata minoriti Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas

1. Pendahuluan

Ketiga-tiga wakil Pakatan Rakyat dalam Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Berhubung Penambahbaikan Proses Pilihan Raya iaitu Ahli bagi kawasan Gombak YB Mohamed Azmin Ali, Ahli bagi kawasan Rasah YB Loke Siew Fook dan Ahli bagi kawasan Kuala Krai YB Dr Hatta Md Ramli telah mencadangkan supaya satu Penyata Minoriti dilampirkan bersama Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa semasa mesyuarat terakhir Jawatankuasa dijalankan pada 29 Mac 2012.

Namun, cadangan tersebut telah ditolak dengan satu undian belah bahagi. Keputusan ialah 3 undi bersetuju dengan cadangan tersebut (Gombak, Rasah dan Kuala Krai) manakala 6 undi tidak bersetuju (Kota Marudu, Kangar, Alor Gajah, Kapit, Hulu Selangor dan Wangsa Maju).

Adalah mustahak untuk ditegaskan bahawa sepanjang perjalanan dan prosiding Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Berhubung Penambahbaikan Proses Pilihan Raya, ahli jawatankuasa dari Pakatan Rakyat telah memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya dalam menyempurnakan tugas mereka.

Penyata Minoriti adalah penting untuk memberikan ruang kepada suara minoriti dalam Jawatankuasa melaporkan pandangan dan cadangan mereka yang tidak dipersetujui oleh majoriti dalam Jawatankuasa. Walaupun tidak mendapat undi majoriti, namun cadangan dan pandangan minoriti dalam sesuatu Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas wajib direkod dan dilaporkan bersama Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa.

Tujuan 3 wakil Pakatan Rakyat dalam Jawatankuasa tersebut mencadangkan Penyata Minoriti ialah kerana kami berpendapat perkara yang paling asas dan penting dalam soal penambahbaikan sistem pilihanraya iaitu memastikan Daftar Pemilih yang bersih dan telus masih belum mendapat perhatian yang sepatutnya dan tindakan yang serius daripada pihak Suruhan Jaya Pilihanraya (SPR).

SPR gagal memberikan komitmen yang penuh untuk memastikan segala kepincangan dalam Daftar Pemilih akan diatasi dan menjamin satu Daftar Pemilih yang bersih yang bakal digunakan pada Pilihan Raya Umum yang ke-13 nanti.

2. Isu-isu berkenaan Daftar Pemilih yang gagal ditangani oleh SPR

2.1 Membetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen tanpa kelulusan Parlimen

Di antara bulan Mac 2008 dan suku ketiga 2011, SPR telah memindahkan seramai 31,294 pemilih keluar dari kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen dimana mereka mengundi pada PRU ke-12 tanpa keizinan mereka. Alasan yang diberikan oleh SPR ialah mereka menjalankan proses memperbetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya ke kawasan yang sepatutnya. SPR menggunakan peruntukan undang-undang di dalam seksyen 7 Akta Pilihan Raya iaitu memperbetulkan kawasan daerah mengundi dan lokaliti di dalam aktiviti belah bahagi untuk melakukan aktiviti yang menyalahi undang-undang iaitu memindahkan pengundi tanpa izin mereka dan memperbetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen tanpa melalui persetujuan Parlimen.

Prinsip Belah Bahagi di bawah tajuk Sempadan Pilihanraya jelas menyatakan:

"Urusan belah bahagi daerah-daerah mengundi adalah ditumpukan dan terhad dalam satu-satu Bahagian Pilihanraya Negeri sahaja. Oleh itu, urusan belah bahagi daerah-daerah mengundi adalah TIDAK BOLEH sama sekali melampaui sempadan Bahagian Pilihanraya Negeri apatah lagi Parlimen termasuklah urusan untuk mencantumkan 2 daerah mengundi yang kecil atau sebahagiannya yang terletak di sempadan 2 bahagian Pilihan Raya yang berlainan."

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengakui bahawa proses yang mereka telah lakukan adalah menyalahi peruntukan undang- undang dan mengambil tindakan serta-merta untuk mengembalikan pengundi-pengundi yang terjejas dalam proses tersebut kebahagian pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen yang mereka mengundi pada PRU ke-12. Proses ini perlu diselesaikan dalam tempoh 30 hari selepas Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.2 Isu berkenaan 42,000 pengundi ragu yang masih belum dibersihkan oleh SPR

Pada penghujung tahun 2011, SPR telah mempamerkan 42,000 nama pengundi ragu yang dikatakan status kewarganegaraan mereka tidak dapat disahkan oleh Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara. Proses pameran tersebut telah tamat beberapa bulanyang lepas namun sehingga kini, SPR gagal membersihkan nama-nama tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih Induk (DPI).

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan membersihkan senarai tersebut dan mengeluarkan nama-nama pengundi ragu tersebut dalam tempoh 15 hari daripada Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.3 Nama pengundi yang melebihi 100 tahun

Dalam Daftar Pemilih Induk SPR, terdapat 65,000 pengundi yang berumur 85 tahun keatas dan lebih 1,000 pengundi yang berumur lebih 100 tahun! Terdapat 19 nama pengundi yang lahir sebelum tahun 1900. Walaupun kebanyakan pengundi yang berumur 85 ke atas dipercayai masih hidup namun pengundi-pengundi yang melebihi 100 tahun adalah sangat diragui.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan menyiasat dengan terperinci nama-nama warga emas yang berumur lebih 100 tahun ini dan seterusnya membersihkan nama-nama tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih dalam tempoh 30 hari.

2.4 Senarai pengundi ragu yang menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan yang bertentangan jantina

Terdapat kajian yang mendapati bahawa lebih 15,000 nama pengundi yang didaftarkan dengan menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan yang bertentangan jantina. Maksudnya ialah terdapat nombor kad pengenalan yang berakhir dengan nombor genap (yang sepatutnya untuk wanita) didaftarkan sebagai pengundi lelaki.Terdapat juga kes nombor kad pengenalan yang berakhir dengan nombor ganjil (yang sepatutnya untuk lelaki) didaftarkan sebagai pengundi perempuan.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan menyemak nama-nama tersebut dengan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara dan seterusnya membersihkan senarai tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih dalam tempoh 30 hari dari Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.5 Isteri anggota polis yang didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos

Satu kajian bebas ke atas Daftar Pemilih mendapati bahawa terdapat lebih kurang 4,500 nama isteri kepada anggota polis yang telah didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos. Isteri kepada anggota polis sepatutnya tidak layak menjadi pengundi pos. SPR telah memaklumkan kategori anggota keselamatan yang layak menjadi pengundi pos ialah anggota tentera dan pasangan mereka serta anggota polis sahaja.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengeluarkan semua nama isteri anggota polis yang telah didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos dan dimasukkan semula dalam Daftar Pemilih sebagai pemilih biasa dalam tempoh 15 hari selepas Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

3.0 Rumusan

Makanya keputusan kami untuk tidak memperakui Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa sebagai laporan yang konklusif serta menekankan keperluan dibentangkan bersama penyata minoriti adalah kerana kegagalan SPR sehingga kini untuk bertindak sesuai dengan mandat Perlembagaan demi memastikan perjalanan pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil. Malah sepanjang perjalanan mesyuarat Jawatankuasa, berdasarkan penjelasan yang diberikan Pengerusi dan Timbalan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya, tambah meyakinkan kami bahawa SPR kian hilang kewibawaan menyempurnakan mandat tersebut secara bebas dan adil.

Turut baca:

Speaker rejects minority report, tempers flare

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Penyata minoriti Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas

1. Pendahuluan

Ketiga-tiga wakil Pakatan Rakyat dalam Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Berhubung Penambahbaikan Proses Pilihan Raya iaitu Ahli bagi kawasan Gombak YB Mohamed Azmin Ali, Ahli bagi kawasan Rasah YB Loke Siew Fook dan Ahli bagi kawasan Kuala Krai YB Dr Hatta Md Ramli telah mencadangkan supaya satu Penyata Minoriti dilampirkan bersama Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa semasa mesyuarat terakhir Jawatankuasa dijalankan pada 29 Mac 2012.

Namun, cadangan tersebut telah ditolak dengan satu undian belah bahagi. Keputusan ialah 3 undi bersetuju dengan cadangan tersebut (Gombak, Rasah dan Kuala Krai) manakala 6 undi tidak bersetuju (Kota Marudu, Kangar, Alor Gajah, Kapit, Hulu Selangor dan Wangsa Maju).

Adalah mustahak untuk ditegaskan bahawa sepanjang perjalanan dan prosiding Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Berhubung Penambahbaikan Proses Pilihan Raya, ahli jawatankuasa dari Pakatan Rakyat telah memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya dalam menyempurnakan tugas mereka.

Penyata Minoriti adalah penting untuk memberikan ruang kepada suara minoriti dalam Jawatankuasa melaporkan pandangan dan cadangan mereka yang tidak dipersetujui oleh majoriti dalam Jawatankuasa. Walaupun tidak mendapat undi majoriti, namun cadangan dan pandangan minoriti dalam sesuatu Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas wajib direkod dan dilaporkan bersama Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa.

Tujuan 3 wakil Pakatan Rakyat dalam Jawatankuasa tersebut mencadangkan Penyata Minoriti ialah kerana kami berpendapat perkara yang paling asas dan penting dalam soal penambahbaikan sistem pilihanraya iaitu memastikan Daftar Pemilih yang bersih dan telus masih belum mendapat perhatian yang sepatutnya dan tindakan yang serius daripada pihak Suruhan Jaya Pilihanraya (SPR).

SPR gagal memberikan komitmen yang penuh untuk memastikan segala kepincangan dalam Daftar Pemilih akan diatasi dan menjamin satu Daftar Pemilih yang bersih yang bakal digunakan pada Pilihan Raya Umum yang ke-13 nanti.

2. Isu-isu berkenaan Daftar Pemilih yang gagal ditangani oleh SPR

2.1 Membetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen tanpa kelulusan Parlimen

Di antara bulan Mac 2008 dan suku ketiga 2011, SPR telah memindahkan seramai 31,294 pemilih keluar dari kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen dimana mereka mengundi pada PRU ke-12 tanpa keizinan mereka. Alasan yang diberikan oleh SPR ialah mereka menjalankan proses memperbetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya ke kawasan yang sepatutnya. SPR menggunakan peruntukan undang-undang di dalam seksyen 7 Akta Pilihan Raya iaitu memperbetulkan kawasan daerah mengundi dan lokaliti di dalam aktiviti belah bahagi untuk melakukan aktiviti yang menyalahi undang-undang iaitu memindahkan pengundi tanpa izin mereka dan memperbetulkan sempadan kawasan pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen tanpa melalui persetujuan Parlimen.

Prinsip Belah Bahagi di bawah tajuk Sempadan Pilihanraya jelas menyatakan:

"Urusan belah bahagi daerah-daerah mengundi adalah ditumpukan dan terhad dalam satu-satu Bahagian Pilihanraya Negeri sahaja. Oleh itu, urusan belah bahagi daerah-daerah mengundi adalah TIDAK BOLEH sama sekali melampaui sempadan Bahagian Pilihanraya Negeri apatah lagi Parlimen termasuklah urusan untuk mencantumkan 2 daerah mengundi yang kecil atau sebahagiannya yang terletak di sempadan 2 bahagian Pilihan Raya yang berlainan."

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengakui bahawa proses yang mereka telah lakukan adalah menyalahi peruntukan undang- undang dan mengambil tindakan serta-merta untuk mengembalikan pengundi-pengundi yang terjejas dalam proses tersebut kebahagian pilihanraya DUN dan Parlimen yang mereka mengundi pada PRU ke-12. Proses ini perlu diselesaikan dalam tempoh 30 hari selepas Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.2 Isu berkenaan 42,000 pengundi ragu yang masih belum dibersihkan oleh SPR

Pada penghujung tahun 2011, SPR telah mempamerkan 42,000 nama pengundi ragu yang dikatakan status kewarganegaraan mereka tidak dapat disahkan oleh Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara. Proses pameran tersebut telah tamat beberapa bulanyang lepas namun sehingga kini, SPR gagal membersihkan nama-nama tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih Induk (DPI).

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan membersihkan senarai tersebut dan mengeluarkan nama-nama pengundi ragu tersebut dalam tempoh 15 hari daripada Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.3 Nama pengundi yang melebihi 100 tahun

Dalam Daftar Pemilih Induk SPR, terdapat 65,000 pengundi yang berumur 85 tahun keatas dan lebih 1,000 pengundi yang berumur lebih 100 tahun! Terdapat 19 nama pengundi yang lahir sebelum tahun 1900. Walaupun kebanyakan pengundi yang berumur 85 ke atas dipercayai masih hidup namun pengundi-pengundi yang melebihi 100 tahun adalah sangat diragui.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan menyiasat dengan terperinci nama-nama warga emas yang berumur lebih 100 tahun ini dan seterusnya membersihkan nama-nama tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih dalam tempoh 30 hari.

2.4 Senarai pengundi ragu yang menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan yang bertentangan jantina

Terdapat kajian yang mendapati bahawa lebih 15,000 nama pengundi yang didaftarkan dengan menggunakan nombor kad pengenalan yang bertentangan jantina. Maksudnya ialah terdapat nombor kad pengenalan yang berakhir dengan nombor genap (yang sepatutnya untuk wanita) didaftarkan sebagai pengundi lelaki.Terdapat juga kes nombor kad pengenalan yang berakhir dengan nombor ganjil (yang sepatutnya untuk lelaki) didaftarkan sebagai pengundi perempuan.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengambil tindakan menyemak nama-nama tersebut dengan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara dan seterusnya membersihkan senarai tersebut daripada Daftar Pemilih dalam tempoh 30 hari dari Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

2.5 Isteri anggota polis yang didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos

Satu kajian bebas ke atas Daftar Pemilih mendapati bahawa terdapat lebih kurang 4,500 nama isteri kepada anggota polis yang telah didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos. Isteri kepada anggota polis sepatutnya tidak layak menjadi pengundi pos. SPR telah memaklumkan kategori anggota keselamatan yang layak menjadi pengundi pos ialah anggota tentera dan pasangan mereka serta anggota polis sahaja.

Jawatankuasa mengesyorkan supaya SPR mengeluarkan semua nama isteri anggota polis yang telah didaftarkan sebagai pengundi pos dan dimasukkan semula dalam Daftar Pemilih sebagai pemilih biasa dalam tempoh 15 hari selepas Laporan ini dibentangkan di Parlimen.

3.0 Rumusan

Makanya keputusan kami untuk tidak memperakui Laporan Akhir Jawatankuasa sebagai laporan yang konklusif serta menekankan keperluan dibentangkan bersama penyata minoriti adalah kerana kegagalan SPR sehingga kini untuk bertindak sesuai dengan mandat Perlembagaan demi memastikan perjalanan pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil. Malah sepanjang perjalanan mesyuarat Jawatankuasa, berdasarkan penjelasan yang diberikan Pengerusi dan Timbalan Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya, tambah meyakinkan kami bahawa SPR kian hilang kewibawaan menyempurnakan mandat tersebut secara bebas dan adil.

Turut baca:

Speaker rejects minority report, tempers flare

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Ramasamy should give up Hindu Endowments Board

FMT LETTER: From Suppayah Krishnan, via e-mail

Reading the FMT letter by MC Pitchay of March 29, I take cognisance that the deplorable situation that led to the successful revamp of the Hindu Endowments board (HEB) in 1989 is being resurrected for another political turmoil or someone is leading a direction towards disunity among the Indians within the Pakatan government.

Perhaps, MC Pitchay should recall his own adverse remarks made against certain DAP leaders including Dr Ramasamy at our Hindu Action Network (HAN) and United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) meetings where numerous Indian DAP members gate-crashed to become commissioners while our NGOs were made into enemies for calling the Pakatan state government to make HEB apolitical.

He should instead search his own conscience in a judicious manner than to blindly support groups that seem to have selfish aims and political ambitions while abusing the poor HEB.

Certain NGOs claiming to have the views of the Hindu public participating in recent demonstrations seem only to justify that those affected commissioners proposed by Dr P Ramasamy have been appointed based on personal skills and qualification.

In truth and reality they are political visionaries playing a political stunt opposing DAP chairman, Karpal Singh who had called for the HEB to be apolitical.

The DAP chairman's call is timely and seems encouraging to numerous Hindus of Penang. Similar political stunts had been played by the MIC leaderships during my 23 years of government office each time an NGO voiced its displeasure.

Amidst personal risks and great difficulties, I had formulated the New Board Rules 1989 where the term of appointment of commissioners, with the exception of a government officer as its ex-officio secretary, for its continuity was determined to a yearly term to reduce politicking.

My proposal to the government then under the late Tun Dr Chong Eu was primarily aimed to avoid politicians in the HEB's composition, as they will eventually abuse their positions for purposes of stabilising their personal political ambitions at the expense of the poor Hindu endowments.

I am happy that a temple bell has rung at least within the DAP leaderships and not during the days of MIC control of the HEB to sort out this political weaknesses that would affect the HEB in the long run.

Karpal, please safeguard its noble aims and objectives from being dragged further into its destruction.
Whereas the HEB should only administer Hindu endowments which include Sikh trusts within the meaning of the Hindu endowments Ordinance, Chapter 175 of 1905 and promoting  HEB to manage educational programmes or schemes alone while sidelining the administration of Hindu trusts by non partisan Hindus lately will only aggravate the failure of the HEB.

And labelling a senior constitutional lawyer, Karpal Singh as a naïve person with regards to the history and development of the HEB, is uncalled for as many would remember that he had served as a watchdog of the HEB while shooting Parliamentary questions each time the HEB was abused by the MIC leaderships.

I had personally attended to those questions via the State Secretary in the past. To confirm my point, the HEB had suffered legal suits and court injunctions back in the 1980s brought by Karpal Singh himself against T Subbiah who was then a state exco and a MIC state chairman when the latter launched the Mobile clinic services at his Butterworth constituency and the building of a new Swamy Iyappan temple within the premises of the Waterfall Hill Top Temple.

Recent disputes by interested parties over the cemetery car wash centre business near Jalan Telaga Air, direct management of the Mariamman Hall at Mengkuang Road both from Butterworth and appointment of an expensive executive director at the expense of the poor board only proves the point that it is infested with too much of politicking and abuses.

To add further, the board is festering with internal DAP politicians quarrelling with one another for its control and the DAP leadership should instead navigate into other more important aspects and concerns of the well being of the Hindu community in this country than to be engrossed in this tiny HEB that predominantly survives on alms and charities from the Hindu public.

I fear this onslaught and barrages will not protect it, instead it may pose a possible destruction of the HEB.

In that light and as a person who had protected the HEB during its horrible trying times of 1989 to 1992 when the Malaysia Hindu Sangam and others wanted the dissolution of the HEB, I wish Dr P Ramasamy, in his wisdom and experience should absolve himself as a commissioner together with his political appointees and pave the way for a non political and independent board as we gave the Hindu public on March 1, 1989.

The writer is a deputy president of the United Hindu Religious Council, Penang and was a former officer of the government serving the HEB for 23 years.

Also read: Karpal has no businesss poking his nose into PHEB

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Bersih shocked over hastily passed report

PETALING JAYA: Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 expressed its "shock" over the manner in which the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on electoral reforms was passed in Parliament today.

The Dewan Rakyat erupted into pandemonium earlier today when Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia passed the PSC report even without debating the matter and putting an unexpected early end to the session.

Pandikar earlier rejected a motion by opposition MPs in the PSC to table a minority report to the main report. This minority report would highlight matters that could not be agreed upon by the PSC.

"We are shocked at the manner in which the PSC's report was received and adopted by the Dewan Rakyat today without any debate.

"Furthermore, we deplore the decision by the Speaker not to permit the inclusion of a minority report together with the main PSC report," Bersih 2.0 said in a statement today.

It added that the fact that there was no debate only showed that the majority of the MPs "are none too concerned about the nature and extent of fraud and other irregularities in connection with the electoral rolls and the conduct of elections" in the country.

It said that a "golden opportunity" to right the wrongs was missed and irregularities which have been highlighted so far would continue "unabated".

"Time and time again, the Election Commission has shown itself to be incapable or unwilling to initiate reforms of the electoral system.

"We question whether the EC has sufficient credibility to commit itself to undertaking the proposed recommendations," it said.

Lack of time-frame

Bersih 2.0 also believes that the recommendations can be implemented immediately without further delay.

It repeated its previous call that all recommendations be implemented in their entirety before the upcoming national polls.

The lack of a time-frame to implement some of the recommendations was also criticised as Bersih claims that this would merely increase the dissatisfaction of the people.

"While some recommendations do provide for a time-frame to report back, many others do not. The lack of a time-line merely adds to the frustration of the people."

Spearheaded by Bersih 2.0, thousands took to the street in July last year demanding free and fair election. The PSC was formed partly in response to the rally.

Today it was reported that Bersih plans to hold another rally by the end of this month.

It sent out an eight-page press statement listing its feedback on all 22 points proposed by the PSC.

Bersih 2.0 also said it was disappointed that a number of key issues were not dealt with by the PSC.

It said that the PSC had failed to look into instances of manipulation of the electroral roll such as the removal of names, changing of the electoral boundaries, and other discrepancies.

Dirty politics

The election watchdog also said that the PSC report made no reference to foreigners being given citizenship for their votes in the Peninsula although the report did acknowledge that such a problem existed in Sabah.

"Nothing is said in the report about election offences…

"There ought also to have been a study into the types of offences committed, and recommendations on how to prevent them.

"Although there is a suggestion that the EC be given more powers to deal with such issues, the PSC did not seek to identify the problems and the clear infringements of the Election Offences Act 1954," it said.

Bersih 2.0 was also disappointed that the PSC report did not mention how to stop dirty politics except for "a reference to a code of conduct to be drawn up in relation to a caretaker government".

"In fact, there ought to be a code of conduct in relation to all candidates and political parties. Bersih 2.0 gave an example of such a code of conduct, from India, to the PSC."

It added that the PSC report also made no reference about inviting international observers.

Also Read

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PSC report approved, trio get the boot

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I need some GOoD vibrations

RECENTLY, Desi has been meeting a lot of logjams in his endearvours. I had bumped into "people" who were good to you only when it suited them -- translated to mean, THEY NEED YOUR SERVICES OR/AND SPECIAL SKILLS TO ACHIEVE SOME TASKS. However, once their goals have met met, they ignore you -- they don't take your phone calls (you know it's ringing...), and they don't even answer your SMSes. During the time when they needed you, they immediately picked up the phone or called back soon after, or eagerly answered your SMS!


These people send out BAD vibrations -- hence the title of this post.

YES, I need to learn to "cut" off potential users of people. I've indeed told some long-standing contacts: "Drop the R, drop the R!" when such called/call you a fRiend. Words come easily to some people in calling other "friends", but what the mouth utters the heART doesn't synchronise.


IN TANDEM

So in such "down" moments, quite challenging to the spirit indeed, Desi turns to his songs and POETRY.
Yes, MAX ERHMANN is one favourite, especially his DESIDERATA (of Happiness). Let me quote a nugget of wisdom from my Teacher:


"(I WILL FILL IN THE BL NKS later, K!? -- this is a rhetorical Q so don't feel obliged to react!:) or :(



Sometimes I also surf to fellow BUMmer masterwordsmith for she does run some poems and anecdotes of Life to share generously wit' fRiends (YES, the R is standing TALL here/hear!). I "borrowed" an old post linked to this elsuive thing called Happiness. When knotty, I will "happyNURSE" to TEAse mGf, which BTW, stands for myGOoDfriend/s...NOT myGALfriend/s or fiends:(

Read More @ Source

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3 Opposition MPs thrown out...

Three opposition parliamentarians were ejected from the Dewan Rakyat today for refusing to obey Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, with the ensuing chaos leading to the sitting being suspended for the day.

The trio had questioned his ruling not to allow a minority report to be appended to the report of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform.

"Under Standing Order 42, when the speaker speaks, you must shut up," Pandikar (right) told them.

'Under Standing Order 43, the speaker's decisions cannot be questioned... and under Standing Order 44, I order Gombak (Azmin Ali), Subang (R Sivarasa) and Kuala Selangor (Dzulkefly Ahmad) to leave the Dewan."

Pandikar had just taken over the chair from his deputy Ronald Kiandee, when he threw out the trio.  Sivarasa had stood up after the lunch break to ask Kiandee for guidance on the possibility that Pandikar was wrong in his ruling on the minority report.

Kiandee refused to entertain the request but, undeterred, Sivarasa - aided by interjections from Azmin and Dzulkefly - continued to argue the opposition case.  They cited precedent after precedent in which minority reports had been presented in other Commonwealth Parliaments.

Kiandee insisted that Pandikar's ruling was also based on pre! cedent a nd accepted practice in the New Zealand Parliament and other Commonwealth legislative assemblies.

There was chaos as the opposition MPs pressed the matter even though the speaker told them there was nothing else to say, and Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) was preparing to take his turn at debating the PSC report.

Azmin then made an oblique reference to "speaker kampung", adding that the precedents that the opposition cited were by established speakers and not one from a village.

Pandikar had earlier sarcastically remarked that he is only a "speaker kampung'"when informing them of the precedents he had researched to back his ruling.

'Tool of Umno' jibe

Azmin, Sivarasa and Dzulkefly did not leave the House but stood around, joined by other opposition MPs.  Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) then stood up directly addressing Pandikar to accuse him of being a "tool of Umno".

Anwar also said Pandikar should apologise if he had made a mistake in his ruling.

This goaded BN parliamentarians into standing up and chanting "Keluar! Keluar!" (Get out! Get out!) referring to the ejected MPs and "Liwat! Liwat" (Sodomy! Sodomy!) to Anwar, who had recently been acquitted of a sodomy charge.

Opposition parliamentarians countered the shouts with chants of "Leave the chair! Leave the chair!" to the speaker, telling him to step down.

When his repeated appeals for the MPs to return to the debate were ignored, Pandikar d! ecided t hat the PSC report did not need to be debated, as it appeared that "the opposition is uninterested" in doing so.

Raising his voice above the din from both sides of the House, he ordered a vote to be conducted. The report was passed by a majority vote and the sitting was suspended up to tomorrow.
 

The 5 recommendations in the minority report are for the EC to: 

1. Admit that it is illegal to change voters' constituencies, and return the 31,294 affected voters to their constituencies as of the last general election within 30 days of the PSC report being tabled in Parliament; 

2. Remove 42,000 voters from the electoral roll whose citizenship cannot be confirmed by the National Registration Department (NRD) within 15 days of the report being tabled; 

3. Investigate the more than 1,000 voters older than 100 years (including one who is allegedly 159 years old) and clean the electoral roll of this within 30 days of the report being tabled; 

4. Work the NRD to check on more than 15,000 instances where the gender opf the voters conflicts with their MyKad numbers, where numbers ending with an even number is supposed to be for females, and odd numbers for males, and clean the electoral roll within 30 days of the report being tabled; and 

5. Change the status of some 45,000 spouses of police officers from postal voters to normal voters because they are not eligible to be postal vot! ers, wit hin 15 days of the report being tabled. - malaysiakini

The division of votes in PSC

Speaker bowed to Umno's pressure...

Peeved by the speaker's decision to eject three Pakatan MPs from the Dewan Rakyat today, Pakatan Rakyat leaders called Pandikar Amin Mulia "Umno's tool" for putting the final report of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform to a vote without debate on it.

At a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said the speaker's action showed "arrogance".

"He bowed to Umno's demands... the speaker had rejected the motion (to append the minority report to it) on the basis that it had no precedent... Three times he challenged us to show him a precedent, but when we did, he did not want to listen," said Anwar.

"They refused to endorse the minority report because it exposes the fundamental issue of a flawed electoral roll," Anwar said.

Machang PKR MP Saifuddin Nasution (left) pointed out that it was incorrect for Pandikar to say that the minority report was not addressed before the PSC.

"It was recorded in the PSC report, on page 53, that the proposal to include the minority report was rejected after a bloc voting was done," Saifuddin said.

! Disappoi nted as well, Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar from PAS complained of not getting the chance to reveal attempts at offering foreigners citizenship for votes.

Mahfuz said he had with him a report compiled by a task force set up by PAS to uncover allegations of citizenship for votes.

"This is a disgraceful episode in the history of Parliament. The speaker lost his cool... it is a black dot in history," said Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor).

Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) also acknowledged that the speaker's decision was unprecedented.

"This is the first time that something like this has ever happened. It is a shame on the speaker for prejudging possible reactions on what might happen (if the minority report is included)," said the veteran MP.

However, Anwar added, this would not hamper Pakatan's aim to unearth irregularities in the electoral system, and the pact's next move would be to mount a campaign to continue exposing anomalies.

"We need a credible speaker to conduct the affairs of the House," he stressed.

Print 28 million copies of minority report, says BN MP
Met outside the House, BN MPs expressed regret over Pakatan's insistence on including the minority report into the PSC electortal reform report.

"The minority report was first raised during the PSC meeting and we clearly told them that it cannot be done because there can only be one  report, but the opposition wanted it.

"So we put it to a vote, six agreed there should be one report but to accommodate the request of the three other MPs, we included some of the points that they wanted in the minority report into the main report itself," said P Kamalana! than (left, BN-Hulu Selangor).

Kamalanathan said the altercation, in turn, deprived MPs wanting to debate on the PSC report to offer their views.

The opposition presented "misleading facts", said Abdul Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud), as it was made clear that the PSC report could not be altered.

"What is a minority report anyway? It is a report to tell the whole world your dissenting views, so go and print 28 million copies and give it to all Malaysians. It can be done, what is the problem?" Rahman  jibed, calling the ruckus a "charade".
 
The five recommendations in the minority report are for the EC to:

• Admit that it is illegal to change voters' constituencies, and return the 31,294 affected voters to their constituencies as of the last general election within 30 days of the PSC report being tabled in Parliament;

• Remove 42,000 voters from the electoral roll whose citizenship cannot be confirmed by the National Registration Department (NRD) within 15 days of the report being tabled;

• Investigate the more than 1,000 voters older than 100 years (including one who is allegedly 159 years old) and clean the electoral roll of this within 30 days of the report being tabled;

• Work the NRD to check on more than 15,000 instances where the gender opf the voters conflicts with their MyKad numbers, where numbers ending with an even number is supposed to be for females, and odd numbers for males, and clean the electoral roll within 30 days of the report being tabled; and

• Change the status of some 45,000 spouses of police officers from postal voters to normal voters because they are not eligible to be postal voters, within 15 days of th! e report being tabled. - malaysiakini

Like it or not electoral fraud will go on unabated...

Election reforms pressure group Bersih 2.0 is disappointed that the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform has failed to address five key issues.

The five issues, Bersih 2.0 said, are: 

1.Manipulation of the electoral roll; 

2.The citizenship-for-votes scam in peninsula Malaysia; 

3.Enforcement of the Election Offences Act 1954 and enhancing the definition of election offences; 

4.A plan to stop 'dirty politics'; and 

5.Inviting international observers.

In view of this, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee said it was "highly likely" that electoral fraud and other irregularities will continue unabated.

"A golden opportunity to right the wrongs and do something good for the benefit of Malaysians now and in the future has, sadly, been missed," the committee said in a statement this evening.
 
Bersih 2.0 is the coalition that organised a mass rally on July 9 last year, which in part pressured the Najib administration into establishing the PSC, aimed at making suggestions to improve the electoral process.

Flaws in the electoral roll

The committee said the PSC had failed to suggest a thorough study into the processes of the Election Commission and the National Registration Department to stop manipulation of the electoral roll. Such areas include, among others, the removal of names and the changing of polling station boundaries.

On the alleged citizenship-for-votes scam in Peninsular Malaysia, the committee said that it was disappointing that only Sabah was mentioned.

"While the problem is acknowledged to exist in Sabah, there is no reference to Peninsular Malaysia, where the issue is also of relevance," said the committee.

On enforcing election laws, the committee said that should have been a study into the types of offences committed and recommendations on how to prevent them.

"Although there is a suggestion that the EC be given more powers to deal with such issues, the PSC does not seek to identify the problems and the clear infringements of the Election Offences Act 1954," said the committee.
 
No international observer! s

On stopping "dirty politics", the committee said that while there was a reference to a code of conduct in relations to a caretake government, the code should cover all candidates and political parties.The committee said that an example of such a code of conduct, from India, was furnished by Bersih 2.0 to the PSC at one of the hearings.

On international observers, the committee said that Malaysia has been officially participated in election observation missions before, such as in Burma and Thailand.

"If we If we subscribe to and endorse the principle of having international observers by our participation in such missions, then Malaysia's reticence in inviting international observers is wholly inexplicable," said the committee.

On the 22 recommendations by the PSC, the committee said most of the recommendations involved the EC as the main implementing body. The committee said that this posed two obvious drawbacks.
 
Can the EC follow through?

First, it argued, the existing EC has shown itself to be incapable or unwilling to initiate reforms and the question now was whether the commission has sufficient credibility to commit itself to undertaking the proposed recommendations.

Secondly, the committee said, Bersih 2.0, which comprised several legal experts, believes that many of the PSC's recommendations could be implemented immediately.

"We do not see the need to provide for a lengthy implementation period.  We reiterate that Bersih 2.0 has demanded that reforms should be implemented before the 13th General Elections are held," he said.

Of the 22 recommendations, 18 were without a implementation time-frame.

"We note that while some recommendations do provide for a time-frame to report back, many ot! hers do not. 

"The lack of a time-line merely prolongs the dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in the electoral system, and adds to the frustration of the people," said the committee.-malaysiakini

Read EC's responses to the PSC's interim report here.

3 MP pembangkang diarah keluar dewan

 Tiga ahli parlimen pembangkang diarah keluar Dewan Rakyat hari ini kerana enggan mematuhi arahan Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia berhubung isu laporan minoriti.

Mereka mempersoalkan keputusannya tidak membenarkan laporan minoriti dilampirkan kepada laporan jawatankuasa pilih parlimen (SPA) bagi reformasi sistem pilihan raya.

"Di bawah Perintah Tetap 42, apabila speaker bercakap, anda mesti diam," Pandikar memberitahu mereka.

"Di bawah Perintah Tetap 43, keputusan speaker tidak boleh dipersoalkan... dan di bawah Perintah Tetap 44, saya mengarahkan Gombak (Azmin Ali), Subang (R Sivarasa) dan Kuala Selangor (Dzulkefly Ahmad) meninggalkan Dewan."

Pandikar baru sahaja mengambil alih tugas mempengerusikan sidang Dewan daripada timbalannya, Datuk Ronald Kiandee, apabila beliau memerintahkan mereka meninggalkan Dewan.

Sivarasa bangun selepas waktu rihat tengah hari untuk meminta panduan daripada Kiandee mengenai kemungkinan Pandikar silap dalam keputusannya berhubung laporan minoriti.

Kiandee (kanan) enggan melayan permintaan tersebut, tetapi Sivarasa, tidak putus asa - dengan dibantu oleh celahan daripada Azmin dan Dzulkefly - terus membangkitkan perkara itu.

Mereka membangkitkan duluan-duluan di mana laporan minoriti telah dibentangkan dalam Parlimen negara Komanwel yang lain.

Kiandee (lamam) bertegas bahawa keputusan Pandikar juga dibuat berdasarkan duluan dan amalan yang diterima di Parlimen New Zealand dan negara Komanwel yang lain.

Keadaan menjadi riuh-rendah apabila ahli Parlimen pembangkang terus mendesak perkara itu.

Penyata minoriti Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas
 

 cheers.

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Pakatan should welcome growth In registered voters

 

Tan Chai Ho

When Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives representing Parliament or state seats in Selangor surprisingly bemoaned the growth in registered voters in their constituencies e.g. 35% spike in Subang, 29.5% in Kota Raja or 25% in Puchong, they conveniently neglected informing that even Barisan Nasional strongholds recorded an increase in registered voters.

Malaysiakini (3 Apr 2012) reports that Putrajaya saw a whopping 81% mount, while registered voters in Pekan soared 31.8%. In Tebrau, the number of registered voters exceeded 31% and Gua Musang's figures went up by 28.5%.

As of October 2011 and having registered 32.5% of the new 169,838 voters registered between January to June last year, DAP comes up tops among all political parties be it BN or Pakatan components in voter registration exercises.

Thus for DAP and other Pakatan wakil rakyats to voice suspicion or displeasure against the rise in eligible voters in Pakatan-held electorates while omitting to reveal that such surges were similarly recorded in BN seats shows their hypocrisy and double standards.

No reason to distrust Malaysians practising democracy

There is no reason for DAP to sound the alarm bells over the climb in registered voters. On the contrary, they should be elated that more and more Malaysians who have reached the age of 21 years and above want to exercise their democratic right in selecting political parties irrespective of ideological affiliation to represent their interests and welfare.

Rather than being scornful, DAP and Pakatan should be encouraged that in this age of new media, social networking, citizen journalism, more and more Malaysians are no longer ignoramus and can gauge for their own selves the performance of elected lawmakers. Thus, the failures of the much hyped Pakatan-led state governments to fulfill their 2008 election manifestos do not escape notice.

Why does DAP hold preference over who votes?

Perhaps, there is a sinister reason as to why DAP shows disgruntlement against people registering to ballot. As evidenced by Teo Nie Ching's twitter message during the Sarawak state election on 11 April 2011 where she tweeted "Meradong in danger!Iban incr n Chinese reduce Pls come back and vote 4 us!!SOS", DAP desires only to attract Chinese votes in their typical sword play of pitting the Chinese against the Chinese.

Sadly for Malaysia and the ideals of democracy, the Rocket does not want all eligible Malaysians to exercise their democratic right of turning up on polling day to cast their ballots.

Register your vote

According to latest figures from the Election Commission, 3,088,540 out of 15,683,808 Malaysians above the age of 21 have ! yet to s ign up as balloters. I urge all Malaysians who qualify to register your vote and make your presence known in terms of national and state-level policy making.

 

TAN CHAI HO is MCA Wilayah Persekutuan Chairman 

 

 

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Sabah ‘successful’: Get real, Rahman

KOTA KINABALU:  Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders' 'blind' adulation of Musa Aman's charge over the state administration is frustrating STAR Sabah chairman Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Taking to task state BN secretary Abdul Rahman Dahlan over his quick defence of Musa's administrative skills, Kitingan said that Musa's successes were more to do with high commodity prices than his economic ability to manage the state.

He said the fact the Musa had announced the 'highest ever' state budget of RM4 billion for Sabah was due to the "higher taxes collected from the recent bumper prices in oil and palm oil".

"It's not because he (Musa) has any extraordinary qualities as Chief Minister, " Kitingan said.

He was responding to Rahman's accusation that Kitingan's attempts to discredit Musa was mischievous.

Rahman had said in a statement published yesterday that Musa's government had created 80,000 jobs, presented the highest ever state budget of RM4 billion, accumulated state's cash reserves of more than RM3 billion, presided over unprecedented economic prosperity and was highly acclaimed as a prudent manager of the state finances by the Auditor General.

Unimpressed Kitingan countered with by saying: "As it is, Musa has not solved a single problem faced by the people, be it poverty, the illegal immigrants, high unemployment, deteriorating rural infrastructure, and the suppressive cabotage policy.

"As proof of this, our youths are still going to Singapore and the peninsula to get employment where they earn higher wages than they would if they worked in Sabah."

Kitingan said that Musa's claim of 80,000 jobs for Sabahans was meaningless in the face of the 500,000 Sabahans who were working in Singapore, Johore, the Klang Valley and Penang.

"And even then Sabah's unemployment rate is still very high. For every one government job advertised in Sabah, hundreds would turn up for the interview.

"If we are in an 'unprecedented economic prosperity' why then is the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers still complaining about the cabotage policy, and the Sabah Timber Industry Association is complaining about more sawmills being closed down due to government's failure to help the industry?" he demanded.

He said Rahman while quick to support his boss had not responded to the specific issues that the opposition had raised all this time.

He challenged Rahman and other BN leaders to talk about these specific issues facing Sabahans rather sidestepping them and talking about so-called successes which have not direct impact in solving the people's problems.

"As for Musa's being the best Chief Minister ever, that is highly debatable. And as far as I am concerned even the best of the worst is still the best, " said Kitingan.

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Voter hikes: MCA calls Pakatan reps hypocrites

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA today accused Pakatan Rakyat representatives of hypocrisy in their complaints about suspicious surges in voter registration.

Kuala Lumpur MCA chief Tan Chai Ho said in a media statement that the complainants, while pointing out such surges in Pakatan-held constituencies, had omitted to mention similar increases in Barisan Nasional strongholds.

He said they were showing their "hypocrisy and double standard".

He was referring to recent statements from Pakatan that there had been sharp increases in the number of new voters in Pakatan constituencies such as Subang (35%), Kota Raja (29.5%) and Puchong (25%)—all in Selangor.

Tan quoted reports saying that some BN-held constituencies had also seen dramatic increases. He mentioned Pekan and Putrajaya, where the increases were 31.8% and 81% respectively. Pekan is the seat of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The MCA leader made no reference to a recent PKR press conference on the subject of the voter surge in Pekan.

He said Pakatan representatives, instead of complaining about the increasing number of voters, should welcome the development because it showed that more Malaysians had become keen to exercise their democratic rights.

He also accused DAP of harbouring communal sentiments, offering as evidence a Twitter message that Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching sent out during the Sarawak state election last year. The message was: "Meradong in danger! Iban increase and Chinese reduce. Please come back and vote for us."

"DAP desires only to attract Chinese votes in their typical sword play of pitting the Chinese against the Chinese," Tan said.

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‘Bowing to Umno’ Speaker draws flak

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has come under fire for approving the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on electoral reforms without debate.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim also condemned Pandikar for not listening to Pakatan Rakyat's challenge with regard to attaching a minority report.

"It has been allowed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Jamaica. He (Pandikar) does not want to allow for a discussion.

"He challenged us three times to come up with a precedent. When we raised this, he didn't want to listen," the PKR Permatang Pauh MP told a press conference in Parliament.

Anwar also accused Umno of having a hand in the matter, and suggested that the Speaker was following the ruling party's demands.

"For me, it clearly shows arrogance (by the Speaker, who) doesn't want to hear or give space for us to explain, and bows to Umno's demands," he said.

Earlier this morning, Pakatan MPs tried to debate a motion to attach a minority report to the PSC's report on electoral reforms.

However, Pandikar said that there was no precedent in any Parliament within the Commonwealth that allowed for this.

At the time, he cited New Zealand parliamentary proceedings as proof for his claim but Pakatan MPs claimed that the Speaker was being selective in his examples.

The minority report contained a detailed explanation on fundamental issues, including that of a allegedly tainted electoral roll.

These included the 42,000-plus voters who were not listed in the National Registration Department and Mimos's (Malaysian Institute of Microelectric Systems) detection of 80,000 voters with similar addresses.

Today, a clearly moody Pandikar claimed that the opposition was not interested in debating the results of the PSC. He then called for a vote, which saw Barisan Nasional MPs voting in favour.

'Taskforce registering foreigners'

Pakatan's three PSC members – Gombak MP (PKR) Azmin Ali, Kuala Krai MP (PAS) Hatta Ramli and Rasah MP (DAP) Anthony Loke – said that the committee was a failure because it did not meet its objectives after six months of meetings and public inquiries.

The nine-member PSC also consisted of five BN MPs and one Independent MP.

The Pakatan MPs claimed that adding the minority report was rejected by the PSC during its final meeting on March 28.

"We asked for the report [to be added], but we were not allowed to present [it]. It was rejected during the final meeting," said Loke.

During the press conference, a disappointed Pokok Sena MP (PAS) Mahfuz Omar said that he had proof of a "taskforce" involved in registering foreigners into the electoral roll.

Adding that he was not given a chance to debate this today, he vowed to raise the matter again tomorrow.

Meanwhile, PSC chairman Maximus Johnity Ongkili said that there was no need for a minority report as Pakatan's dissent was already recorded in the original report.

He added that EC was in the midst of cleaning its electoral roll. Postal votes, he said, was only for soldiers serving on Malaysia's borders. Other soldiers, he said, would have earlier voting periods instead.

Also read:

The Minority Report

PSC report approved, trio get the boot

Speaker rejects minority report, tempers flare

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Negara Dunia Pertama: Dahulu dan Sekarang

Kerajaan Islam Abbasid pada kurun ke-10 sinonim dengan zaman kegemilangan Dunia Islam; adalah empayar terunggul atau dalam bahasa mutakhir, empayar Dunia Pertama. Kemajuan ilmu sains, ilmu falsafah dan ilmu pemerintahan mendahalui kerajaan lain termasuk dunia Barat yang waktu itu diselebungi Zaman Kelam (Dark Ages).

Dunia Islam melahirkan beberapa institusi perintis urus-tadbir kenegaraan – seperti Institusi majlis syura, hisbah, madrasah, mahkamah – bersama kestabilan sosio-politik serta kemajuan ekonomi yang mencirikan empayar dunia pertama ketika itu.

Sumbangan dunia Islam adalah budaya kebebasan berfikir dan menghargai ilmu; di mana segala sumber dan bentuk ilmu walaupun dari China diambil dan ditambahnilaikan, seterusnya dikongsi dan tersebar ke dunia Barat.

Selepas Baghdad ditawan tentera Mongol pada kurun ke-13, dunia Islam dalam bentuk empayar besar berpecah kepada daulah-daulah kecil dan terpisah seperti di Andalusia sementara status empayar Dunia Pertama semakin terhakis sehingga sekarang kesemua negara-negara Islam termasuk Malaysia berada di tahap negara Dunia Ketiga.

Budaya Politik Kolonialisme Terus Kekal

Giliran dunia Barat pula membangun hasil kesinambungan budaya ilmu dan rangka institusi dunia Islam yang terus diperkembangkan dari zaman kebangkitan sehingga lahirnya zaman perindustrian di Britain – disusuli pencorakan falsafah politik hasil pertembungan demokrasi dan komunisme – telah menjadikan negara-negara Barat sebagai negara Dunia Pertama.

Perjalanan sejarah ditandai zaman penjajahan dunia Barat iaitu kolonialisme serta dua Perang Dunia. Sementara bekas-bekas penjajah bergerak kehadapan dengan memperbaiki ciri-ciri negara Dunia Pertama namun bekas jajahan yang meraih kemerdekaan termasuk Malaysia menjadi penjajah baru kepada rakyat sendiri – dengan meneruskan amalan politik pecah-belah berteraskan perkauman, sistem perundangan drakonian dan penjarahan ekonomi golongan elit yang mirip budaya penjajah sebelumnya. Budaya penjajahan kekal sama dengan hanya penukaran bendera, menggambarkan suasana negara Dunia Ketiga sekarang.

Kita harus menilaikan perbezaan Dunia Pertama dan Ketiga dari segi budaya politik, institusi-institusi kenegaraan dan prestasi ekonomi untuk menentukan apakah yang mesti dilakukan supaya Malaysia tidak kekal sebagai negara Dunia Ketiga – lebih-lebih lagi bila sudah bermula reformasi demokrasi di Dunia Islam dengan pergerakan 'Arab Spring'.

Budaya politik Dunia Pertama kurun ke-21 adalah kuasa untuk rakyat dan bukan kuasa untuk harta. Dunia Pertama sekarang bercirikan demokrasi rakyat yang berteraskan kebebasan berfikir, kebenaran ilmu dan keadilan sosial berbanding dengan Dunia Ketiga bercirikan oligarki feudal yang memenjarakan pemikiran dengan ideologi sempit lagi batil – menyekat kebenaran ilmu melalui kawalan media massa serta penggunaan propaganda hitam – dan mengabaikan keadilan sosial demi mengangkat kapitalisme kroni.

Penumpuan – bukan pengasingan kuasa serta pengagihan kekayaan – ditangan segelintir manusia menjadi matlamat oligarki feudal Dunia Ketiga yang memerintah.

Perbezaan Politik Dunia Pertama dan Ketiga

Perbezaan utama budaya politik Dunia Pertama dan Ketiga adalah sikap kepimpinan Dunia Pertama; bilamana berlaku kesilapan atau kegagalan menjalankan tugas dan tanggungjawab akan disusuli oleh perletakan jawatan termasuk penghadapan ke muka pengadilan jika ada salah-laku. Malangnya pemimpin-pemimpin yang mempunyai konflik kepentingan masih lagi berleluasa di dalam pentadbiran negara kita, malah dilindungi dan disanjungi sebagai wira.

Institusi-institusi di negara Dunia Pertama berkhidmat demi kebaikan dan kebajikan rakyat. Sebaliknya, institusi negara Dunia Ketiga walaupun mewarisi rangka institusi bekas penjajah seperti – institusi parlimen, pilihanraya, kehakiman dan kerajaan – telah dipinda bukan untuk kepentingan rakyat tetapi untuk golongan elitis yang berkuasa.

Proses pilihanraya jika dibandingkan dengan negara-negara Dunia Pertama, masih jauh ketinggalan dari segi keadilan dan ketelusan. Contohnya, meskipun pemilihan Presiden Amerika Syarikat masih di peringkat awal, sentiasa ada laporan tentang perdebatan yang sihat mengenai dasar-dasar hala-tuju negara di antara calon-calon yang bertanding. Seterusnya proses pilihanraya yang masih 'dijajah' budaya Dunia Ketiga Ini termasuk percanggahan di dalam senarai daftar pengundi, waktu berkempen yang dihadkan, tiada akses sama rata di dalam media, tiada peluang rakyat di luar negara mengundi dan penggunaan jentera serta dana kerajaan untuk berkempen.

Institusi Parlimen dijinakkan melalui mengurangkan peranan perwakilan rakyat, mengusulkan rang undang-undang berat sebelah, tiada kuasa pemantauan agensi penguatkuasaan undang-undang seperti SPRM atau agensi ekonomi seperti Petronas, tiada penubuhan jawatankuasa tetap memantau urus-tadbir kerajaan dan tiada sesi soal-jawab mingguan Perdana Menteri.

Manakala integriti badan kehakiman dan perundangan dicemari dengan kepentingan politik pemerintah seperti kelambatan pengadilan bertulis serta kegagalan Peguam Negara merayu penghakiman Razak Baginda di dalam kes pembunuhan kejam Altantuya. Malahan, Suruhanjaya DiRaja mengenai perlantikan hakim oleh VK Lingam juga diabaikan. Pemberian tanpa tender projek lebuhraya KIDEX bernilia RM1.2 bilion kepada keluarga bekas ketua hakim negara dan peguam Umno sewaktu krisis perlembagaan rampasan kuasa Perak terus mengukuhkan persepsi integriti badan kehakiman terguris.

Perbezaan Ekonomi Dunia Pertama dan Ketiga

Prestasi ekonomi pula menyaksikan kegagalan untuk keluar dari perangkap ekonomi berpendapatan sederhana dan kemajuan ekonomi yang terencat akibat rasuah, ketirisan dan kecacatan dasar-dasar ekonomi.

Laporan Transparency International pada tahun 2011 di dalam Corruption Practices Index 2011 menunjukkan bahawa Malaysia menduduki tempat yang ke-60 di dalam carta yang menyenaraikan 182 buah negara. Laporan yang sama pada tahun 2010, menempatkan Malaysia di kedudukan ke-56.

Projek-projek seperti PKFZ dan NFC hanya sebahagian daripada senarai yang semakin memanjang perihal ketirisan dan penjarahan ekonomi negara; dianggarkan mencecah RM1 trillion (RM1,000,000,000,000) apabila disertakan kadar hutang Negara dan Awam sebanyak 133% KDNK; menjaminkan kita menyambut 'kiamat ekonomi'.

Malaysia pernah bersekedudukan dengan Korea Selatan dan Singapura di persada ekonomi antarabangsa. Dahulu kadar Ringgit Malaysia berbanding Dollar Singapura hampir sama. Perbandingan prestasi selama sepuluh tahun menunjukkan pada Mac 2002, SGD1 = RM2.0593 tetapi pada hari ini, kemerosotan terus berlaku dengan kadar RM2.4370 berbanding setiap Dollar.

Pendek kata, Malaysia berpotensi untuk menjadi negara Islam perintis bertaraf Dunia Pertama di zaman ini seandainya kepimpinan bersedia mendakap tanggungjawab moral dan keimanan untuk berubah – seperti mana dunia Barat keluar dari Zaman Kelam dengan menerapkan sumbangan dunia Islam yang silam sementara kita pula menerapkan ciri-ciri kenegaraan Dunia Pertama – agar kita tidak terkebelakang sehingga menjadi negara Dunia Keempat yang pertama.

Bukankah Islam menyuruh pemimpin dan rakyat membuat kebaikan melebihi ciri-ciri Dunia Pertama agar menjadi umat contoh dan menjauhi kejahatan ciri-ciri Dunia Ketiga agar selamat dunia dan akhirat?

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