Anwar Holds International Election Conference In Parliament

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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 FEB: An international conference on the 13th General Elections will be held on 4 and 5 March in the Parliament House with the aim of gathering support for an election which is free, fair, and democratic reform.

Among the seven key issues which will be discussed at the two-day conference includes assessing election democracy in Malaysia and evaluating proposals from the Malaysian Election Committee in reforming the elections.

According to Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a press conference at the PKR headquarters today, the conference is expected to discuss eight previous demands from the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0).

“Participants expected to take part are members of parliament (House of Representatives and the Senate), state government representatives, ministry officials and federal agencies, diplomats, election watchdog organisations, civil unions, non-governmental organisations and representatives of the media,” said Anwar.

He also informed that Members of Parliament from BN who will serve as panelists include the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and Hulu Selangor Member of Parliament, P Kamalanathan.

BERSIH 2.0 Co-Chairman, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan is also expected to attend the conference which will be officiated by the Dewan Negara (Senate) Speaker, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Nika Ujang.

Meanwhile international panelists consists of Judge Marlon Reis, Prof Dr Gotho Arya (Thailand), Dr Mohamad Nasir Tamara (Indonesia), Damaso G Magbual (Philippines), Mobashar Jawed Akbar (India) and Prof Dr Clinton Fernandes (Australia).

Anwar will also considers the choice of holding the conference at Parliament as sign that politics in this country is becoming more mature.

“This, again, is important as a sign that Malaysian politics are becoming more mature because an international event hosted by the opposition leader will be held in Parliament,” he added.

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