The parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms will organise at least six public hearings nationwide.

In response to the request made by the Bersih 2.0 coalition campaigning for clean and fair elections, its chairperson Maximus Johnity Ongkili said today that the public hearings will be organised in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak, and three other places in the northern, southern and eastern parts of the peninsula.

NONE “This will be held to give opportunities to people to submit memorandums... but (the length) is subject to the time availability,” said Ongkili ( left ).

“We will also open a website (which can be linked from the Parliament website)  just for that, so that they can submit recommendations and proposals,” he said.

Yesterday, Bersih proposed that the PSC hold public hearings in every state to collect evidence and views from all Malaysians on the electoral system.

At a press conference this afternoon, Ongkili - who is also the science, technology and innovation minister - said he hoped the public hearings will start as early as the third week of November.

“The first two to three meetings will be with the PSC members, because I want to give chance to the members to voice their opinion.

“The members of the PSC represent various parties and communities, so we will give them the opportunity to bring whatever concerns they have.

“Then, we will make the decisions on matters we can agree upon, but on contentious issues, we will open it to the Malaysians,” said Ongkili, who added that the PSC will have its first meeting on Oct 12.

azlan According to Ongkili, the panel would also take feedback through emails and SMSes, as well as his ministry’s portal called myideas.my which will be tailored to accept recommendations from the public on improving the electoral process in the next three months.

“We have people to analyse these (ideas and suggestions). I hope the public hearings will be completed by December.

“That will give us three months to prepare a report,” said Maximus.

The PSC on electoral reform which was set up on Monday comprises of five BN parliamentarians, three from Pakatan Rakyat and one Independent.

Besides Ongkili, the other four BN representatives are Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB), Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Umno), Alor Gajah MP Fong Chan Onn (MCA), and Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan (MIC).

Pakatan representatives are Gombak parliamentarian Azmin Ali (PKR), Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS) and Rasah representative Anthony Loke (DAP).

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong (Independent) is the ninth member of the committee.

The panel, purported to reflect Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s reform initiatives, will have six months to come up with recommendations.

Its critics, however, claim it is an attempt at damage-control by the government following  public outcry over the authorities’ crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 electoral reform rally on July 9.

NONE About 1,700 arbitrary arrests were made on those who had gathered to demonstrate for clean and fair elections, an event marred by the police’ use of tear gas, water cannons and violence on.

Asked if civil societies would be able to contribute their views, Ongkili said any “legal institutions, associations or personalities” are welcomed to approach the panel.

Quizzed if this included the banned Bersih 2.0 coalition, Ongkili said its members can partake in the discussions as individuals, not as representatives of the group per se .

NONE “Bersih is not a registered organisations. They have to come as individuals… of course (Bersih 2.0 chairperson S) Ambiga ( right ) can come as a member of the  (Malaysian) Bar Council or as Datuk Ambiga (herself).”

Ongkili also said that the public hearings are akin to Parliament in process and it subscribes to the Standing Orders of the House.

“So every word is recorded in the Hansard . Only certain people are qualified to appear when it’s sanctioned by the committee because it is a parliament sitting,” he said.

He added that the first meeting starting next week will discuss the terms of reference and special focuses of the committee, adding that among the matters that will be addressed are the laws, regulations and rules; the election process system; electoral roll and the viability of the Election Commission (EC) as an institution.

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