KUALA LUMPUR: The composition of members in the Parlimentary Select Committee on electoral reforms should not be made an issue, said Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
Koh, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said even though the opposition had three members compared to five from the Barisan Nasional (BN), they would be given the freedom to voice out and make proposals to influence decisions, which would be made by the voice of the majority.
“In a democracy anywhere, the majority and the minority have their respective roles where in the end, the majority will make the decision with due consideration to the views of the minority,” he said when commenting on the opposition’s allegation that it would be difficult for the committee to achieve its objectives as it would be controlled by the ruling party.
He told reporters this after chairing a meeting of the party’s Central Committe at Menara PGRM here yesterday.
On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz announced that the special committee to be chaired by a minister would be made up of nine members, with five from the BN, three from the opposition and one independent MP.
Meanwhile, on criticisms about his leadership carried in the mainstream media lately, Koh said this was something normal.
He said he had offered to step down as Gerakan president after the party’s dismal showing in the 2008 general election but it was rejected by Gerakan’s Central Committee.
On the challenge to him by Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng that he (Koh) contest in Penang in the next GE, Koh said: “He is trying to be a hero, he is a ‘frog’. He is not qualified to challenge me.” — Bernama