Pakatan Rakyat coordinator, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, stands with Ibrahim. He voiced strong concerns about the feasibility of recall elections when Malaysia doesn't even have a solid framework for basic elections at the municipal and government levels.
By Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today
Concerned about the incessant political shenanigans in the country, 100 civil society groups made a plea that the country's budding democracy be protected and upheld.
They chastised both coalitions for undermining voters' verdict through various unscrupulous means, including defections and changes in government without seeking a fresh mandate.
In a statement, they suggested both the coalitions undertake six basic reforms in their current capacity or in future as federal and state governments. Among them is the introduction of 'recall elections'.
Recall elections are an electoral device that allows citizens to sack elected representatives who underperform or betray their mandate.
Already in place in America and Canada, these are an extension of the democracratic process in that it allow citizens to hold elected officials accountable during their term in office.
Locally, recall elections sit between two extremes. The first is Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution which prevents MPs from re-contesting for five years following their resignation.
The last MP to get away with this was Datuk Shahrir Samad, who resigned from Umno and re-contested as an independent for the Johor Bahru seat in 1998.
The second extreme is the anti-hopping law, passed in Sabah (1986) and Kelantan (1990). It was declared null and void several years later on the grounds that it was unconsitutional.
It forced a parliamentarian to vacate his seat if he changed party affiliation, regardless of whether he acted in the interest of the electorate. This gave the party leadership a disciplinary whip over members who stepped out of line.
written by gentek003, March 18, 2010 04:54:17
They should have a rule where those who have contested twice cannot be contest again in the election unless the council find the individu is eligible to lead the people..
If not, sorry to say lah liao..You are out of the league..
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written by AlwaysFair, March 14, 2010 13:10:36
It will be a more democratic step forward with more accountability to the voters who were fooled to vote for some frogs who use their seats not to serve the people but as bargaining chips for the highest bidder.
I support recall elections as well as local council elections.
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written by Better My, March 14, 2010 08:48:05
The PR government in waiting must begin to assess the best options and narrow to one once they form government and implement it for goverment stability. The knowledge from the contributors in the above article far exceed the mickey mouse suggestions that the MT writers have put up past few months, including myself if our mickey mouse ideas had helped to attract this issue attention by 1%, it would have been worth it.
As of now, our unconfirmed shadow Attorney General in waiting Zaid Ibrahim should take the lead in discussing this issue with all PR component parties and experienced individual, like Harris, and compromise for the best and quick solution, and hopefully the PR can share with the near final position with all of us, to let us know that they are ready to govern as far as this issue is concerned. Keep in mind, we can always amend the final implemented postion later to suit the objective even better.
For malaysia.
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written by Eskay345, March 14, 2010 05:41:57
The Pakatan Rakyat govt. in Penang should make the first move... to be followed by Selangor etc.
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I gotta agree on the rule where if one changes party , he/she should stepped down and pave way for the others.