The parliamentary select committee on electoral reform today revealed that it is more or less agreeable to the proposal to use indelible ink to stop multiple voting.
"We are in concurrence, except over the (need for) constitutional amendment," he said of one of the coalition's eight demands.
Ongkili, who is science, technology and innovation minister, said that the committee is now weighing the legal viewpoints on whether the use of the ink would require changes to the federal constitution.
"Based on Article 119, someone can say because I don't want to be marked, you are forbidding me to vote and infringing on (my) rights," he said.
Ambiga: No need constitutional amendments
To this, Ambiga, who is former Bar Council president said it is her legal view that it can be implemented without changing the constitution if the use of the ink is included in the elections regulations.
Ambiga added that changing the constitution to allows for indelible ink is like "using a nuclear weapon to kill an ant".
Committee member Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (BN-Kangar) said that the argument for a change in the constitution is driven by concern that election results could be nullified following petitions, resulting from the use of indelible ink.
"We fear that an election (result) can be challenged and the court holds that (the use of the ink) is unconstitutional. The lawyers are split on this...," he said.
He also aired concern that the committee would go down in history as one that arrived atthe wrong decision in the event that polls results are nullified because the constitution had not been amended.
'99.9 percent confident'
Supporting Ambiga's view was the Bar Council whose president Lim Chee Wee said that he is "99.9 percent confident" that the use of idelible ink requires no constitutional amendment.
He said that including this in the Federal Constitution will set a "bad precedent".
The Bar Council in its submission also proposed that the Election Act be amended to force media to provide fair coverage to all political parties, according to the number of candidates fielded.
This should include both state-owned and privately-owned media.
"There should be minimum airtime with the formula based on number of candidates contesting. The obligation is on the media to ensure the stipulated access, if the party wishes," he said.
He added that in 2008, only the Sun carried an advertisement for DAP, while deputy party Youth chief Jenice Lee told the panel in her submission later that media refused to give them space, even when they were willing to pay.
2 comments:
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin desires a unified school system for Malaysia. What it means is that Barisan Nasional will be willing to become one party with membership open to all races and religions in Malaysia. In return, the Malaysians must allow a unified school system in Malaysia. In Malaysia they have national schools and national type schools. Whatever Khairy wants to comment about should be confined to national schools, not the national type schools. As regards to national type schools, Khairy should hold his tongue and mind his own business.
It does not matter what Khairy Jamaluddin says or does not say. In the world of the future we will see China growing stronger socially, politically, and economically. That’s it. With every passing day both China and India are growing stronger socially, politically, and economically. Khairy Jamaluddin’s statements will not make any changes. In the world of the future it may be an asset to know Chinese language. Khairy should encourage more Malays to send their children to Mandarin medium schools.
Some how, Khairy Jamaluddin is trying to create a link between the UMNO-BN on the one hand and Chinese medium and Tamil medium schools on the other hand. Who cares about the future of UMNO-BN? Nobody. Whether UMNO-BN wins or loses the next elections, the Chinese and Tamil medium schools should and will survive. No political party should touch the Chinese and Tamil medium schools. Whatever changes that the political parties want to make in the education sector should be regarding the national schools, not national type schools.
Who cares whether Barisan Nasional is divided into numerous component parties or becomes a singular multi racial and multi-religious party? It will make no difference because with every passing day both China and India are strengthening socially, politically, and economically. This is the future. The future is not Khairy Jamalludin. Khairy is too small for China. The future is China and India; and both nations are non-Muslim nations. The Chinese in Malaysia should continue to send their children to Chinese medium schools. Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak deserve greater autonomy. Furthermore, Philippines claims Sabah. Does Sabah belong to Malaysia or Philippines? We need one nation with several systems in Malaysia. One nation with one system will not work in a multi-religious and multi-lingual nation like Malaysia.
In the 1960's and !970's, many Chinese Malaysians spoke English among themselves. In year 2011, Chinese Malaysians speak Mandarin among themselves. I would like to commend UMNO-BN government for strengthening and consolidating the Mandarin language in Malaysia. UMNO-BN should be credited for increasing Mandarin usage in Malaysia. What ever changes in the education sector that UMNO brought about is indeed on the right track because Mandarin usage has increased. Furthermore, UMNO has been visionary because she has been able to predict the rise of China in the 21st century. Increasing Mandarin usage will benefit Malaysia because China is a rising power in this world. If only UMNO continues her pro-Mandarin policy, it will augur well for Malaysia in the long run. It is time to consider making Mandarin an official and national language in Malaysia.
Yes, one nation with one system will not work in a multi-religious and multi-lingual nation like Malaysia. All the three languages, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, are different niches in Malaysia. They all contribute to Malaysia. Please ask Khairy to hold his tongue and mind his own business as regards to Chinese medium and Tamil medium schools.
The bottom line is that, no matter who says what, the future is that with every passing day both China and India are growing socially, politically, and economically.
Its the matter of fact that chinese conquer all fields but we should not forget that the survival of other races is also important .With regard that this is Malaysia ,it is not too much to ask for unified school.U simply implying that there is no need for unification amongst malaysian citizen via education and you only concern about chinese survival.Besides, your comment is drifting away from the topic.
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