KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to come up with a radical change in the voting system in the next general election, even moving away from voters casting ballots for individuals.
Instead, Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) said, general elections could see Malaysians voting for party blocs rather than individual candidates.
“That is up to the government. I think the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed is the best platform for the government to create a new approach in the 15th general election (GE15),” said the former law minister .
She said this while debating the King’s speech in the Dewan Rakyat today, after urging the government to fast-track her private members’ bill for recall elections and make it the basis for Putrajaya’s anti-party hopping act.
Azalina also said all 220 MPs needed to accept the fact that Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed prime minister by the King due to the previous administration’s “mistake” over the revocation of the emergency ordinances.
She said the matter had aggrieved Istana Negara as the King wanted the ordinances to be tabled and debated in the Dewan Rakyat.
“This is a black mark in our history. As MPs, we must realise the power that we have cannot be used at our own whims and fancies.
“We must also learn that in a parliamentary democracy, we are tied to the Federal Constitution. We cannot do anything just because we have power, because this power is temporary.
“We were chosen by the people and we will be evaluated by the people,” added the former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker.
She also urged the government to work towards separating the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor, while reminding ministers and their deputies to show up for meetings when called up by parliamentary select committees (PSCs).
“When PSCs call you, please show up. According to the Constitution, the Cabinet is also accountable to Parliament and to PSCs.”