By Shannon Teoh | August 16, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The federal opposition has demanded that they chair the prime minister’s parliament parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms.

In a press statement issued this evening, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) said that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s announcement “validates issues on electoral reform raised by Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 and we consider it a huge feat and win for democratic forces in Malaysia.”

However they want a PR MP to chair the new committee.

“To prove good faith, we request the prime minister to incorporate the following demands (that) the head of the parliamentary committee should be from the opposition,” said the release sent by the coalition’s secretariat.

It also demanded that “these reforms must be finalised, announced, and completed, in toto, before the 13th General Election.”

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had poured cold water on hopes that the Najib administration’s parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms can quickly draw up recommendations, stating instead that it would take a year before it concludes discussions.

With speculation that Najib will call snap elections soon, Wan Junaidi’s comments could mean that the parliamentary panel would only present its findings after the next national polls.

The Umno president has also delayed party polls that was due in April this year but the party’s constitution requires that it can only be delayed by 18 months, which is in October next year — exactly when Wan Junaidi believes the PSC will begin wrapping up.

PR added today that the Election Commission (EC) must “be held to account for all its seemingly partisan actions and statements, which have lead to the erosion of public confidence.”

“Reforms must be enacted to the Election Commission itself in order to restore integrity to this institution that is supposed to safeguard democracy,” it said.

The opposition also demanded that all recommendations especially the eight-point demand by electoral reforms movement Bersih be heard.

It also noted that meanwhile, there is “nothing stopping Barisan Nasional from immediately addressing the flaws highlighted thus far” such as its claims of unfair access to the media and over 1,600 foreigners who have been given the right to vote.

Najib had announced the PSC yesterday in a major concession to Bersih after a month of damage control in which his administration and reformist image took a battering in the international media.

Tens of thousands took to the streets to support Bersih’s July 9 rally for clean and fair elections in defiance of warnings of police action, which finally resulted in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and one ex-soldier dead.

The government crackdown led to international criticism and a group of Malaysians even protested when Najib visited London, a rare experience for any Malaysian prime minister abroad.