'Implement Suhakam's suggestions on polls reform'
Published: Aug 17, 2011 9:08 AM | Updated: Aug 17, 2011 10:06 AM
With all eyes on the formation of a parliamentary select committee to undertake electoral reform, the Bar Council reminded the government that the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) proposed a series of reforms back in 2007 - but these were ignored.
With all eyes on the formation of a parliamentary select committee to undertake electoral reform, the Bar Council reminded the government that the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) proposed a series of reforms back in 2007 - but these were ignored.
Commenting on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement on Monday that such a select committee would be set up, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee (right) pointed out that the government need not wait until after the panel makes its report before considering electoral reforms.
"Suhakam in 2007 published its recommendations for electoral reform, among which include equal access to the media, a longer campaign period and automatic registration of eligible voters.
"These recommendations are so trite that no right-thinking Malaysian would argue against any of them, and should have been debated in Parliament in 2007 or 2008. Had this been done, electoral reforms could have been implemented earlier," Lim said in a statement issued yesterday.
The Bar Council chairperson urged the government to take Suhakam and its work more seriously and give its reports the time and thought they deserve.
Lim said the Malaysian Bar welcomed Najib's decision to establish the parliamentary committee as well as to review media censorship laws, but hoped these announcements will translate into real action with real changes soon.
"(The Malaysian Bar) hopes that the government will heed the voice of the rakyat, calling out for action to uphold and promote the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression, rather than seeking to repress and suppress any speech that is not approved of."
Thumbs up for automatic registration
Lim also supported the call by Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (right) to introduce automatic registration of voters and to lower the minimum voting age from 21 years to 18.
"The right to vote is a reflection of the maturity, social awareness and sense of responsibility of the individual, and in law, when a child reaches the age of majority; the individual is legally regarded as an adult, responsible for his or her own actions.
"For such a person to be disenfranchised is incomprehensible," he said.
A lower minimum voting age, according to Lim, would engage the young of our nation in the political process.
"It is patronising and hypocritical to say that our young people should concentrate on their education and not be involved in any political activity/process, when those who are studying abroad and young people of other nations can do so."
The extract from executive summary of Suhakam's Human Rights and Election, Malaysian Human Rights Day 2007 Report, can be downloaded here.
Commenting on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement on Monday that such a select committee would be set up, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee (right) pointed out that the government need not wait until after the panel makes its report before considering electoral reforms."Suhakam in 2007 published its recommendations for electoral reform, among which include equal access to the media, a longer campaign period and automatic registration of eligible voters.
"These recommendations are so trite that no right-thinking Malaysian would argue against any of them, and should have been debated in Parliament in 2007 or 2008. Had this been done, electoral reforms could have been implemented earlier," Lim said in a statement issued yesterday.
The Bar Council chairperson urged the government to take Suhakam and its work more seriously and give its reports the time and thought they deserve.
Lim said the Malaysian Bar welcomed Najib's decision to establish the parliamentary committee as well as to review media censorship laws, but hoped these announcements will translate into real action with real changes soon.
"(The Malaysian Bar) hopes that the government will heed the voice of the rakyat, calling out for action to uphold and promote the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression, rather than seeking to repress and suppress any speech that is not approved of."
Thumbs up for automatic registration
Lim also supported the call by Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah (right) to introduce automatic registration of voters and to lower the minimum voting age from 21 years to 18."The right to vote is a reflection of the maturity, social awareness and sense of responsibility of the individual, and in law, when a child reaches the age of majority; the individual is legally regarded as an adult, responsible for his or her own actions.
"For such a person to be disenfranchised is incomprehensible," he said.
A lower minimum voting age, according to Lim, would engage the young of our nation in the political process.
"It is patronising and hypocritical to say that our young people should concentrate on their education and not be involved in any political activity/process, when those who are studying abroad and young people of other nations can do so."
The extract from executive summary of Suhakam's Human Rights and Election, Malaysian Human Rights Day 2007 Report, can be downloaded here.
View Comments0