Set up Parliamentary Select Committee specially to monitor the EC implementation of the PSC Report recommendations.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw insists that the House set up a Special Select Committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the PSC Report to improve the electoral system.


The Government must increase the human and financial resources of the Election Commission (EC) so that it can implement the proposals effectively. The Government should announce the increase in the number of EC staff members.

(The speech was made in the morning. YB Nazri replied in the afternoon, saying that the Government has created 422 posts in the EC with 35 temporary posts of Grades 41, 44 and 48 from 1.5.2012 to 30.4.2013.)

On 5.4.2012, Dr Tan took part in the debate on the supplementary Supply Bill 2012 at the committee stage on B4 RM48,770,200 for the cost of election matters.

The supplementary expenditure was used in the Tenang, Merlimau and Kerdau by-elections, the 10th Sarawak State Election and the preparation for the 13th General Elections.

EC tried to carry out its duties. But, there were weaknesses. For example, the electoral roll was suspected to be unclean, there was shortage of staff and non-citizens were said to have the rights to vote.

Two days ago, as the House was emotionally charged, the PSC Report was approved without debate.

There are many issues. The Majority Report has 18 proposals such as procedures for casting votes early and a new general election can only be declared four years after the last one. We hope that the four proposals contained in the Minority Report such as reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 and automatic registration of eligible voters can also be accepted by EC. These will help to overcome its weaknesses such as cleaning up the electoral roll and stop non-citizens being registered as voters.

The Government members tend to make mountains out of mole hills. Outwardly, they talk about democracy and clean electoral roll. But, in practice, we hope they really show the true democratic spirit.

The Minister, Datuk Seri Nazri, says the Cabinet will discuss the formation of a committee to oversee the implementation of PSC Report recommendations. We expect him to bring it up. He seems to behave like a toothless tiger.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib remarks thus: "The Government, too, wants a fair and clean election as it does not want to be elected based on any election fraud."

We agree. Lets hope that his action is as good as his words.

Tan Seng Giaw