A WIDER debate on electoral system and candidacy selection is needed following the public uproar on the upcoming Port Dickson by-election, says Bersih 2.0.

In a statement today, the election watchdog urged PKR candidate for Port Dickson, Anwar Ibrahim to take a stand on the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system or to move to find other alternatives for the process.

“Bersih 2.0 calls for a wider debate on both the first-past-the-post electoral system and the top-down and opaque candidacy selection process.

“It is high time for Malaysians to consider, and PKR candidate for the by-election Anwar Ibrahim to take a stand, if we want to continue having all our parliamentarians and state lawmakers elected through the FPTP system, or if we should move to some mixed member systems with some lawmakers elected through party list proportional representation (List-PR),” Bersih 2.0 said.

According to Bersih 2.0, the resignation of Danyal Balagopal Abdullah as the MP for Port Dickson shows the rigidity of the FPTP system in allowing parties to alter their leadership lineup.

“Because the FPTP mandate is personal, the current system necessitates by-elections whenever vacancies arise, whether the incumbents succumb to illness or accident, become incapable or disqualified or resign.”

Bersih 2.0 continued by saying that FPTP candidates should be selected bottom-up by local branches, and not the party headquarters.

“In the UK where the FPTP system is born and still applied, nomination of candidates by party headquarters is only justified in List-PR.

“The GE14 saw many new candidates fielded by both BN and PH on last-minutes arrangements or against the will of local branches. Such undemocratic practices often cause local discontent, boycott or even sabotage,” the electoral reform group said.

The vocal NGO then questioned if the allegations of nepotism or cronyism could be avoided when candidacy selection is top-down and opaque.

“Beyond the question of dynastic politics directed to the Anwar family, the bigger question is top-down and opaque candidacy selection process across almost every party in Malaysia.

“Bersih 2.0 calls upon Malaysians to be critical of the Port Dickson by-election, but their scrutiny must cover the systemic defects and not end with personalities,” it said.

Last  Wednesday, Danyal announced that he was stepping down as the MP of Port  Dickson to allow Anwar to contest in a by-election.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof officially informed the Election Commission that Danyal had vacated his seat.

This is the first time that Anwar is contesting outside of Penang, where he’s traditionally represented the Permatang Pauh constituency.

The Port Dickson seat was won by former Navy Rear Admiral Danyal, who got 36,225 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s VS Mogan (18,515 votes) and PAS’ Mahfuz Roslan (6,594 votes). – September 17, 2018.