Najib 'insincere' with electoral reform proposal

DAP questioned Prime Minister Najib Razak’s sincerity in opting to form a parliamentary select committee to look into electoral reforms as it could be a fruitless exercise, unlikely to yield results in time for the next general election.

“Malaysians are left wondering what the prime minister wants to do with the select committee. Is he truly sincere? Does he mean business?” asked DAP national deputy chairperson Tan Seng Giaw (right).

In a statement today, Tan, who is also Kepong MP, called on Najib to explain the cabinet’s rationale for opting for a select committee when the Election Commission (EC) had already started meeting with Bersih 2.0 over the latter’s eight point demand for electoral reform.

Tan noted the contradicting statements by Najib and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said Nazri had said the committee would come up with electoral reforms to be implemented in the next polls, yet Bernama yesterday reported the PM as saying that the next general election could be called “anytime and is not bound by the work of the parliamentary select committee”.

“Malaysians wonder what the prime minister means when he says that the government would strive to implement recommendations made by the committee before the elections.

“Once the committee is approved by parliament in the coming October sitting, it will take time, perhaps six months or longer for it to be able to give recommendations and the election laws to be amended and enforced.

“If Najib declares an earlier election, how would he implement the committee's recommendations?” said Tan.

Najib makes U-turn in four days

Meanwhile, another veteran DAP leader lambasted Najib of doing a flip-flop in four days.

Lim Kit Siang lamented that the PM has reneged on his implicit undertaking that the next general elections would not be held until the PSC has reached a national consensus on electoral reforms.

“Najib is in effect saying that the BN government is now prepared to go ahead with the next general election although it has failed to put to rest suspicions of manipulation by the government in the country's electoral process,” he said in a statement.

“This has vindicated the intense questioning and doubts about the true intentions of the parliamentary select committee proposal, whether it is a genuine and sincere attempt to address and resolve the many flaws in the electoral system or just a gimmick to sidetrack legitimate and growing public demands for electoral reforms.”

Lim suggested that Najib could have bowed to pressures from Umno hardliners, such as his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who refused to concede that the electoral system is seriously flawed.

“Be that as it may, it is now in the court of the prime minister as to whether his proposal of a parliamentary select committee will be stillborn because of his refusal to fully consult with and seek the agreement of Pakatan Rakyat on various important aspects of the committee as well to assure all Malaysians that it will be a meaningful exercise and not a political ploy to avoid electoral reforms.”

PAS Youth did not mince its words in criticising Najib’s U-turn, describing his statement yesterday as “irresponsible” and “hypocritical”.

“Perhaps Najib feels that his fate as prime minister and MP for Pekan will be buried at the 13th general election should the parliamentary select committee lead to reforms in the electoral system,” said Mohd Sany Hamzan, who is PAS Youth election director.   

Sany said that PAS rejects any attempt to hold the general election before the select committee has completed its tasks.