your say'The existing laws are sufficient to conduct free and fair elections. What is seriously lacking is enforcement and strict standard operating procedures.'

PSC will lead to a new election law: Minister

RR: The existing laws are quite sufficient to conduct free and fair elections. What is seriously lacking is enforcement and strict standard operating procedures.

Now that it is established that there are abuses, the king has to appoint a new commission from amongst luminaries from both sides of the divide and also from relevant NGOs like Bersih.

Why do you need a parliamentary select committee that would only drag matters beyond the next GE or rush through a law with filled with shortcomings just to meet the GE date?

FellowMalaysian: This is just to soothe the nerves of Bersih's supporters and deflect the intense scrutiny on the EC.

First, the Najib Razak administration was caught with its pants down over the entire Bersih affair and the response it generated. He fears repercussions and thus, after weeks of mulling, brought forth this PSC (parliamentary select committee) proposal.

Based on what Nazri has described, there is little political will and sincerity. Even if the committee manages to successfully bring forward its recommendations to the cabinet, by the time the cabinet decides on it, GE13 would have been well over.

Makcik Har: This PSC is just a ploy - what they call slow play in football. Meanwhile, the instant citizenship centres are working at full steam. Instant citizens, instant voters.

AB Sulaiman: Nazri says: "If the general election falls in 2013, the new law will be used, but I don't know when the next general election will be called. Only the prime minister knows."

I do not wish to sound judgmental, but this looks like an escape clause which the government has every intention to use. We, the people, must insist for the GE not to be held until the proposed PSC recommendations are implemented.

Kgen: There is no chance that the PSC study can made into law before the 13th general election. Other methods to clean up the electoral process must proceed. This should not be a BN diversionary tactic to do nothing before the next election.

Cala: Najib, first show to us your sincerity. By forming a parliamentary committee and by enacting new laws are not sufficient conditions to curb electoral malpractices.

What about the implementers of the electoral reform to ensure permanent residents would not come in through the backdoor?

If Najib is sincere, he must go back to the basic about the tenets of good governance. And good governance must take care of justice, fair play and be equitable in one's undertaking.

Without a firm commitment to them, is it not akin to building a house on stilt?

Quigonbond: With Nazri qualifying his reform remarks, it is patently clear that BN is least interested in reforms before the next GE.

Why the need to amend the law when all that is required is for the current law to be enforced? It's simply overkill to replace the current laws when a few tweaks here and there are all that is needed.

And most importantly, the EC must flex its constitutional powers and get full cooperation from the police, MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and AG (attorney-general).

This is all turning out to be a big farce aimed at hoodwinking Malaysians into believing that reform is on the way.


Four more ex-soldiers admit to postal vote fraud

Anonymous_403: This is shocking! Is this Malaysian democracy? How could four ex-army personnel mark thousands of voting slips on behalf of soldiers?

These four have come forward. What about others who did not? Were there other soldiers and in other camps doing the same thing? If this is true, then postal votes should be abolished.

Appum: Well, Election Commission, what have you to say to these four brave soldiers who exposed such fraud during the elections all these years.

There is no need to go back so many years, what about the recent few elections? I think in order to save the name of the EC and its integrity, both the chief and deputy chief should opt for voluntary retirement.

Loyal Malaysian: So, we have confirmation yet again of the abuses in the postal votes system. Electoral reforms must be carried out. We cannot allow the Umnoputras to tip further the already imbalanced playing field to their favour.

Tired: It's funny that everyone seems to swallow the claims by these four ex-servicemen line, hook and sinker. But when it comes to claims implicating the opposition, the knives are drawn out fast, with many asking how much they have been paid to come out with the story.

To be fair, we should also be asking the four - how much have you been paid by the opposition to slander the armed forces and government?

Onyourtoes: Between 1978 and 1999? That is almost the whole duration of Mahathir's premiership. Everything done during this PM's tenure should be declared invalid and illegal.

Samuel Ng: The government who plunders public funds so openly is capable of more deceit behind the scene, so I am not surprised by this revelation. Most Malaysians have suspected this for decades. Now the proof is coming out.

 

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