POLLS watchdog Bersih said it was alarmed with the government’s decision to table its budget three weeks earlier than usual, fearing that this was a sign of early polls.

It said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should not bow to pressure from certain quarters in Umno for an early general election, to save kleptocrats from justice in court. 

It added that all parties should instead support a new convention of ‘fixed-term parliament’ by allowing the 14th Parliament to dissolve only on July 15 next year.

“If supporters of kleptocrats get their way, then the ‘two-class’ phenomenon would be institutionalised – government politicians would be spared from any legal consequences for breaking laws and robbing the people, as long as they can win elections.

“We call upon the prime minister to stand firm on his promise to not interfere in the judiciary by rejecting the call for an early election. 

“He must remember his mandate comes from parliament, not Umno,” Bersih said in a statement.

The watchdog also urged Ismail to quickly implement key reforms, including separating the public prosecution from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

Such a separation would eliminate selective prosecution and impunity by the AG, who is a political appointee and whose decision may be influenced by political considerations, Bersih added. 

It said that after the next polls, if the AG withdraws all charges against Najib Razak in his remaining cases, nothing can be done by any judges, and Najib would walk away a free man after receiving royal pardon in the SRC International case.

Najib is currently in the Kajang prison after the Federal Court rejected his appeal last week in the SRC International case for which he had been jailed 12 years and fined RM210 million.

Bersih also said other pressing reforms include a political finance law that would provide sufficient public funding to political parties to reduce their dependence on slush funds, appointment of standing select committees to scrutinise every ministry (“departmental committees”) and reform in absentee voting for out-of-region and overseas voters to raise turnout rates.

“As all these reforms would take months to be ready, if all stakeholders are given ample time to offer their inputs, the 14th Parliament should last until July 15, 2023. This would start a new constitutional convention of ‘fixed-term parliament’.”

The cabinet decided yesterday that the Budget 2023, scheduled to be tabled in parliament on October 28, will now be moved three weeks earlier to October 7.

Barisan Nasional leaders have been reported as saying parliament could be dissolved after the budget is tabled.

The change in budget date comes days after pressure from Umno for the prime minister to call for an early election. – August 27, 2022.