Bersih 2.0 has set out immediate and long-term changes that the proposed parliamentary select committee (PSC) should consider.

NONE“The first report should be on immediate reforms that must be carried out before the general election and the committee must complete its report within three months of its formation,” said steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah (with yellow scarf).

At a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, Bersih 2.0 outlined the immediate reforms as:

  • Automatic voter registration
  • Automatic update of voters' data
  • Procedures to identify and delete fraudulent registration and prevent involuntary voter transfer
  • Reducing voting age from 21 to 18
  • Reform of postal/absentee voting
  • Implementation of indelible ink
  • Minimum campaign period of 21 days
  • Guideline for media conduct during elections
  • Investigation and enforcement to stop vote-buying
  • Presence of international observers for future elections

The coalition then wants a second report which looks into long-term reforms that deal with the more technical aspects of the electoral system:

  • Study on last constituency delineation and minimise mal-apportionments and gerrymandering
  • Reform of party and electoral finance, including introducing public financing
  • Enactment of an Administrative Neutrality and Caretaker Government Act
  • Restoration of local elections
  • Measures to prevent party-hopping and right for elected representatives to recontest after resigning
  • Review of the Election Offences Act 1954
  • Terms of references for a royal commission of inquiry on electoral reforms

“We expect the second report to be completed within one year, and (give it) another year for it to be implemented,” said Chin.

‘EC will have to listen to panel’

Another steering committee member Wong Chin Huat lauded the premier’s proposal to create the panel, but warned the government to take the PSC’s recommendations seriously.

NONE"As before, we take the prime minister's word very seriously. The last time, he said (Bersih 2.0 could hold its rally in a stadium and) we took it seriously.

"We lay down exactly what we mean, and we don't expect the prime minister to come back later and say that ‘the PSC is not what you think, we mean something else’.”

Wong said the proposed PSC would wield more power than the task force under the Election Commission that Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan had suggested.

"The PSC is of different level from the taskforce under the EC. It wields greater power to examine irregularities and the EC which claims that it is merely a management body will have to listen to it.”

In consideration of Ramadan and the upcoming Hari Raya celebration, an emergency sitting of Parliament would not be necessary, Wong said, referring to Pakatan Rakyat’s call.

However, he suggested that the PSC be set up immediately after the Oct 3 budget session.

Responding to deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar's claims that the PSC would likely take about a year to complete its discussion, Wong said that Najib should serve his full term if necessary.

"The prime minister have to make sure the general election is not held until then - he can serve a full term (until 2013),” he added.

Reform the electoral system before the next GE