The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002 is expected to be a hotly-debated issue when Parliament convenes on Monday for the fourth term this year.

This is largely due to the ongoing controversy over allegations of phantom voters, or in the words of the Election Commission(EC), 'imported voters', in the recently-concluded Pendang and Anak Bukit by-elections.

The EC, Umno and opposition parties have been exchanging political insults and accusing each other over the last few weeks of tainting the electoral roll for the July 18 by-elections. The DAP has also been raising the phantom voter issue for decades but the matter has yet to be resolved.

The Election Bill is up for second reading, together with the Law Academy Bill 2002 and the Land (Group Settlement Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2002.

Fireworks over education and election

Contacted today, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said the party's MPs will raise two main issues, namely the teaching and learning of Science and Maths in English and the debate on the election practices.

"Election issues are highly contentious right now, and I'm sure the amendment bill will be hotly-debated in the Dewan. I'm expecting a hot session this time around," he said.

"The issue is still hot, this being the first meeting of Parliament after the by-elections. Furthermore, there is Umno's allegation of phantom voters and the EC chairperson's admission of it being a problem for years."

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok added that she may raise the issue on the recent revelation by a retired naval chief of an attempted coup in 1999, via letters and e-mails allegedly sent by reformasi supporters, thus linking it to jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

She said she may also raise the billion-ringgit incinerator project in Kampung Bohol in Puchong, but "it will depend on what develops in the next few days".

"The demolition of the longhouses where City Hall had placed more than 100 squatter families years ago have already begun, but the people have not been paid the agreed compensation."

PAS' Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar said education will also top their list of priority areas to be debated come Monday.

"It is still a controversy and the government has not settled the matter yet."

Pressing issues for pre-Budget debate

Referring to the recent deaths of patients suffering chronic illnesses, he said the government will also be questioned on its failure to provide proper and affordable public healthcare services.

Mahfuz, who is also PAS Youth chief, said he will raise the alleged corrupt practice of Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz and former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik following Keadilan Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor's possession of documents classified under the Official Secrets Act.

"There may be an emergency motion by (Opposition leader) Abdul Hadi Awang on the recent US' attack on Iraq."

Keadilan's Kemaman MP Abdul Rahman Yusof said he wanted an explanation on the national economic forecast because he alleged that the figures were manipulated by the government.

Election Bill a hot issue

Bukit Bendera MP Chia Kwang Chye, who is also Gerakan secretary-general, said the party's three backbenchers will meet on Monday evening, as was the usual practice, to decide on what matters to raise.

The Dewan Rakyat will convene for 38 days beginning Sept 9 while the Dewan Negara will sit for 12 days starting Nov 11. Both houses of Parliament will meet for at least six hours between 10am and 5.30pm daily.

On Sept 20, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will table the national 2003 Budget at 4pm in his capacity as Finance Minister.

A swearing-in ceremony will be held for the new Pendang MP Othman Abdul on the first day at 10am.

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the RM5 million government grant allocated for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) should be debated in Parliament, given that the commissioners are being paid "bigger perks and allowances than MPs".

"(Is it) just for Suhakam to deal with the 'soft' areas of human rights and avoid the 'hard' issues?" he suggested in a statement.

"If not, a clear message should be sent to Suhakam to address the hard and central issues of violations in Malaysia," added Lim, citing police brutality, preventive detentions, media censorship and laws which protect corrupt practices and abuse of power as examples of hard issues.