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Tuesday, 6 September 2011

'Let panel finish job, then polls'

The New Straits Times

TUARAN: The Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms must be allowed to complete its job before the next general election is called, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said yesterday.

"Otherwise, if the election is called before the committee completes its task, it will defeat the purpose of setting it up in the first place," the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko) president said after launching the party's divisional triennial general meeting here.

"If Parliament is dissolved, the committee will also be dissolved. The first thing that needs to be done is to clean up the electoral roll by addressing the weaknesses, whether perceived or real, in the system.

"By doing so, the people will then have no reason to complain. We must be prepared to admit what is wrong and take credit for what is right, so that is why we need to prepare a roll that is beyond question." 

Dompok said Upko and other Barisan Nasional component parties had made calls for electoral reforms even before the Bersih 2.0 rally two months ago.

The meeting yesterday saw Upko secretary-general Datuk Wilfred Tangau taking over as the divisional chief from the party's deputy president and Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing. There was no contest for the top post.

Dompok also said the party's strength lay in the loyalty and sincerity of its members. 

"Each and everyone of us contribute to what we believe in because as citizens of this country we have our targets set through agendas or policies decided by our leaders.

"Upko has been consistent in its struggles and will remain true to its stand for as long as it is the right thing to do and for the good of the people."

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