REFORMS Automatic registration of voters, extension of voting rights to overseas Malaysians
Two key issues have dominated the first day of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms, namely the automatic registration system and extending the voting rights to Malaysians living abroad.
Speaking at a press conference after the hearing ended, PSC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said these were "real things and practical" ideas into which the committee needed to look.
"Quality ideas were presented to the committee, and we took time to discuss them," said Ongkili, who is also the minister for science, innovation and technology.
However, he said that those who presented their proposals to improve the electoral system needed to be prompted in elaborating them.
"There were some who were emotional (while presenting their ideas) as they were passionate in their beliefs but we had to prompt a few of them for their ideas."
Ongkili was referring to Annie Ooi Siew Lan, who presented her ideas earlier.
Ooi had urged the committee to facilitate voting for all Malaysians, including those overseas, hospitalised or on duty. She, however, had no solutions when prompted.
"I am not giving you the solution, you have to work on it."
Ongkili said 12 individuals and organisations presented their proposals at yesterday's hearing and seven more are expected to share their ideas today at Parliament.
They were Selangor Youth Council, MCA, Transparency International (Malaysia), Society for the Blind in Malaysia, Association of Former Police Personnel, Selangor MIC Putera, K.J. John, Human Rights Party, Michael Soosay, Putera MIC II (International Bureau) and Youth Malaysian Movement.
Another five more public hearings will be held nationwide. The second public hearing is on Nov 25 and Nov 26 at Kompleks Pentadbiran Persekutuan Sabah in Kota Kinabalu.
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