GEORGE TOWN: The DAP national chairman Karpal Singh wants his party to adopt a “one candidate-one seat” electoral formula in the next general election, with one exception. The exception is to allow the Penang chief minister to contest both the state and parliament seats to safeguard public and state interests.
Karpal said DAP should do away with its 44-year-old practice of fielding certain candidates to contest both federal and state seats in the polls.
This, he said, would allow more capable and qualified party members to join in the national electoral fray.
Since being an officially registered party in 1966, DAP has always fielded candidates to contest both federal and state seats up to the last general election.
Karpal explained that the dearth of talented, capable and qualified candidates was the main reason for DAP to allow candidates to contest both seats in the past.
“But it is no more the case now,” he told a press conference in Taman Tun Sardon during a visit to his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency.
He said the influx of new members, who were attracted by the party's growing strength and popularity, has given the DAP several choices to pick its candidates for the next general election.
"Currently, the party has members who are qualified, capable and dynamic enough to contest elections," said Karpal, who himself is no stranger to the double-seat party electoral formula.
He was a Jelutong MP and Bukit Gelugor assemblyman between 1978 and 1986.
In subsequent elections, besides continuing to be Jelutong MP, he also contested and lost state seats of Sungai Pinang (1990), Padang Kota (1995) and Datuk Keramat (1999).
A direct voice
Said Karpal: “The time has come for the DAP to stop the practice and adopt the one man-one seat policy.
“The only exception would be to allow the chief minister to contest both seats.”
He added that the exception was necessary to allow a chief minister to represent the people of Penang in parliament.
”A chief minister would be a direct voice for the people of Penang in parliament,” he said.
He will raise the matter at the next party central executive committee meeting to be held probably early next month.
DAP currently has seven MPs doubling up as state representatives.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is the Bagan MP and Air Putih state representative. He is also the party secretary-general.
Besides him, Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy is the Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman while Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow represents Tanjung parliamentary and Padang Kota state constituencies.
Other DAP stalwarts wearing double hats are Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham; Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, both from Perak; Seputeh MP and Kinrara state representative Teresa Kok Suh Sim from Selangor; and Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen from Sarawak.
Automatic registration
Karpal said he would also prefer other Pakatan Rakyat allies – PKR and PAS – to adopt the same one man-one seat election policy.
Karpal also wants the Election Offences Act 1954 to be amended to allow automatic registration of voters, enforce compulsory voting for all citizens and lower the current voting age limit of 21 to 18.
He will propose these amendments during parliamentary debate on Budget 2011, which is scheduled to be tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Tun Razak on Oct 15.
He wants the federal government to make the amendments before the next general election, which he forecast could be held together with the Sarawak state election after Chinese New Year next year.
Karpal said the automatic registration and compulsory voting would uphold the rights and responsibilities of citizens, while a voting age limit of 18 would standardise the country’s democratic process in line with the Age of Majority Act 1971.
Section Two of the Age of Majority Act states that minority of all males and females shall cease and determine within Malaysia at the age of 18 years and every such male and female attaining that age shall be of the age of majority.
“The compulsory voting shall be enforced with a severe penalty for the offenders,” said Karpal.
On the next general election, he said although Pakatan states need not hold state elections simultaneously with the parliamentary polls, it would be politically logical and realistic to do so.
He said simultaneous state elections in Pakatan-ruled Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan could neutralise Barisan Nasional election machinery’s focus and emphasis.
“Logically and realistically, it would boost Pakatan’s electoral chances,” he said.
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