National interim government should be formed to tackle current political instability, says Ambiga

By:
A. Azim Idris

Prominent lawyer and electoral reforms activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan has called for an emergency parliamentary session to be convened to form a national-interim government comprising members of Parliament from all sides of the political divide.

She said the interim government should be constituted for the next 18 months to restore stability to the current political landscape before a fresh election was held to bring back public confidence in the administration.

“It is crucial that all members of Parliament put aside their political differences in the interest of the people and the nation to bring stability and confidence back to the nation,” she told a press conference to introduce the Demi Rakyat (For The People) action plan to provide a solution to the present political “crisis”.

Ambiga, who is also National Human Rights Society president, said the implementation of the plan would address the immediate and urgent problems of the rakyat in both economic and social issues.

She said the national government should hold a free and fair elections within that period and appoint independent Election Commissioners who enjoy public confidence and proceed to “clean up” the electoral process for the general elections.

The interim government, she said, should also address the scourge of corruption with its eradication in all sectors, including the eradication of political patronage, while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be empowered by making changes to its structure, mandate, and relevant laws.

“Steps shall be taken to strengthen the protection and immunity for whistle-blowers by ensuring they are free from intimidation, and by reforming the Whistleblowers Act 2010.”

As part of the “temporary” government’s overarching principles, Ambiga said it should also restore fundamental liberties under the Federal Constitution.

“It should immediately repeal all legislation that restrict media freedom and revoke the restrictions and bans imposed on all media including The Edge and The Sarawak Report,”

This was part of the principles contained in a seven-page action plan which was jointly formulated by the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham), and the Negara-ku People’s Movement.

Source: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/07/28/national-interim-government-should-be-formed-to-tackle-current-political-instability-says-ambiga/