Penang-based political reform organisation Aliran today slammed lackadaisical parliamentarians for their absence when the important Election (Amendment) Bill 2002 was put to the vote yesterday.

A very important Bill pertaining to the elections could only command the attendance of 44.6 percent out of the 193 elected members of parliament. This is the pathetic state of our parliament  even parliamentarians dont take parliamentary proceedings seriously, said Aliran president P Ramakrishnan in a statement today.

What is even more deplorable is that it took only 32.6 percent of the MPs to pass the Bill, which is clearly a minority, he added.

The government successfully pushed through the Bill which will see drastic changes in the conduct of the countrys elections. Sixty-four out of 83 MPs in attendance voted in favour of the amendments.

With the passing of the new Bill, the electoral roll issued by the Election Commission can no longer be challenged in any court of law and the deposit for parliamentary candidates is increased from RM5,000 to a maximum of RM20,000.

De facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim had given his assurance that the RM20,000 deposit was only a ceiling and would not be imposed according to the whims and fancies of the Election Commission.

He was quoted as saying that it was not true that the EC would impose the maximum amount for the next general election but that the EC would use its discretion to impose a reasonable increase.

Not reassured

Ramakrishnan however said Rais assurance was dubious. Why couldnt that reasonable sum be stipulated in the Bill and remove the doubt once and for all? he asked.

He said that as long as the ceiling is stipulated at RM20,000, it is reasonable to conclude that the ceiling sum would eventually be implemented.

The effect would be to exclude well-meaning individuals who are not well-off from the electoral process and confine it to the wealthy who can afford to be carefree in splashing their ringgit, Ramakrishnan added.