Nazri: PSC will go on, with or without opposition
Published: Sep 15, 2011 11:25 AM | Updated: Sep 15, 2011 11:29 AM
The parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms will be formed even without the participation of opposition members of parliament, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz.
The parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms will be formed even without the participation of opposition members of parliament, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz.
He said this was because there was no condition stating that the PSC could only be set up with the presence and participation of opposition MPs.
“The PSC must comprise members of parliament. That’s all. As long as we can fill up the nine places with MPs, the committee is valid.
“It’s not stated that the PSC must also comprise opposition MPs. The government is being benevolent (by including the opposition). We (BN) have the majority, so it’s up to us to consider. We are kind, so we give them three (places on the committee). It’s not their right to determine (the composition),” he told reporters at a Hari Raya gathering hosted by Amanah Raya Berhad in Kuala Lumpur today.
Nazri (right) said if the opposition did not want to be in the PSC, the places allocated would be given to other lawmakers.
He also described the five demands or conditions set by the opposition for the government as unreasonable and crazy.
“The government will not be so crazy to agree to their conditions. How can we comply? If we don’t, they will not participate (in the PSC).
“Perhaps this is what they want, but I wish to state here that the PSC will go on with or without them (opposition). Their absence in the PSC will not fail the committee,” he said.
The five demands are for the eight demands by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections be accepted and for the Election Commission (EC) to implement the demands that fall within their jurisdiction, the opposition and Barisan Nasional (BN) to jointly set the date for the general election, to give ample room for the EC to carry out its responsibilities, the issue of giving citizenship to foreigners be on the PSC discussion agenda, and for every decision of the PSC to be implemented.
On the government’s seriousness in setting up the PSC, Nazri said the opposition got a “fright” when the government was really implementing it.
“When the government decided to form the PSC, it was the right thing to do because even if we debate on it in parliament, it would still end up in the establishment of such a PSC.
‘They started making excuses’
“So, when we agreed, they got a shock and have not been serious about it. When they saw that the government was serious, they started making excuses including the ludicrous demands so as not to participate in the PSC.”
He said the government would not entertain the five demands made by the opposition.
“As stated by (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, it is the prime minister’s right and not the opposition’s, to decide whether to hold the general election before five years.
“I think (Opposition Leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) understands this too, as he had gone through the elections as deputy prime minister before. Please don’t act ignorant now,” he added.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had on Aug 15, announced the setting up of the PSC to avoid any suspicion that the government was manipulating the general election results.
Besides being headed by a minister, the committee will comprise nine parliamentarians - five from the government side, three from the opposition and an independent.
- Bernama
He said this was because there was no condition stating that the PSC could only be set up with the presence and participation of opposition MPs.
“The PSC must comprise members of parliament. That’s all. As long as we can fill up the nine places with MPs, the committee is valid.
“It’s not stated that the PSC must also comprise opposition MPs. The government is being benevolent (by including the opposition). We (BN) have the majority, so it’s up to us to consider. We are kind, so we give them three (places on the committee). It’s not their right to determine (the composition),” he told reporters at a Hari Raya gathering hosted by Amanah Raya Berhad in Kuala Lumpur today.
Nazri (right) said if the opposition did not want to be in the PSC, the places allocated would be given to other lawmakers.He also described the five demands or conditions set by the opposition for the government as unreasonable and crazy.
“The government will not be so crazy to agree to their conditions. How can we comply? If we don’t, they will not participate (in the PSC).
“Perhaps this is what they want, but I wish to state here that the PSC will go on with or without them (opposition). Their absence in the PSC will not fail the committee,” he said.
The five demands are for the eight demands by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections be accepted and for the Election Commission (EC) to implement the demands that fall within their jurisdiction, the opposition and Barisan Nasional (BN) to jointly set the date for the general election, to give ample room for the EC to carry out its responsibilities, the issue of giving citizenship to foreigners be on the PSC discussion agenda, and for every decision of the PSC to be implemented.
On the government’s seriousness in setting up the PSC, Nazri said the opposition got a “fright” when the government was really implementing it.
“When the government decided to form the PSC, it was the right thing to do because even if we debate on it in parliament, it would still end up in the establishment of such a PSC.
‘They started making excuses’
“So, when we agreed, they got a shock and have not been serious about it. When they saw that the government was serious, they started making excuses including the ludicrous demands so as not to participate in the PSC.”
He said the government would not entertain the five demands made by the opposition.
“As stated by (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, it is the prime minister’s right and not the opposition’s, to decide whether to hold the general election before five years.
“I think (Opposition Leader) Anwar (Ibrahim) understands this too, as he had gone through the elections as deputy prime minister before. Please don’t act ignorant now,” he added.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had on Aug 15, announced the setting up of the PSC to avoid any suspicion that the government was manipulating the general election results.
Besides being headed by a minister, the committee will comprise nine parliamentarians - five from the government side, three from the opposition and an independent.
- Bernama
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