The non-participation of MCA and MIC members of Parliament on the debate of the proposed amendments to the Elections Offences Act 1954 was very much felt as the debate entered its third day in Parliament today.

Abdul Rahman Yusof (Keadilan-Kemaman) commented that the two Barisan Nasional component parties have been silent while only Umno MPs debated the bill.

"What happened to MCA and MIC? Why have they not spoken about the bill? Does this mean that they are not in agreement with it?" queried Abdul Rahman.

Abdul Rahman, who is a Keadilan supreme council member, directed his question at Mustafa Ali (PAS-Dungun) who was debating the proposed amendments.

In reply, Mustafa said that Umno was a party which only had its own interests at heart.

"MCA or MIC can die, Umno doesn't care. All they care about is that they must win, others can lose, never mind," said Mustafa.

His statement prompted Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN-Rompin) to say "We always defend the MCA and MIC but PAS always bring trouble to DAP".

Agree on many issues

Jamaluddin was referring to DAP's departure from Barisan Alternatif last year over the Islamic state issue.

But Mustafa criticised Jamaluddin for not understanding the nature of politics.

"We (PAS and DAP) disagree on certain issues, but on many issues affecting the country, we agree. We also agree with Barisan Nasional on certain issues but it is only Umno which is hard-headed," he said.

De facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim is expected to sum up the debate on the proposed amendments this afternoon.

The BN MPs seemed reluctant to participate in the debate as there are only between 15 to 20 MPs at any one time during the session.

The Election Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002, which Rais tabled on Monday, seeks to introduce 28 amendments in a bid to enforce better discipline among election candidates and campaigners.

Tighter rules

The amendments spell tighter rules and regulations and higher penalties such as fines and jail terms for offenders. The new laws also make it an offence for politicians and parties to make seditious remarks, be they on posters, banners or during ceramah (political talks).

It also seeks to penalise Election Commission (EC) officers who fail to carry out their duties in a fair manner.

Meanwhile, Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) urged the EC to investigate allegations that Filipino migrants holding Malaysian identity cards have voted in the last Sabah state elections.

She also called upon Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as BN chief, to look into claims that many Filipinos holding false ICs had registered as Umno members in Sabah.

"It is time for the Umno leadership who are busy looking for phantom voters in the country to check Umno's membership to ensure there are no foreigners signing up as members," Kok said.