KUALA LUMPUR: The first-past-the-post electoral system, or a simple majority, is still relevant as it enables minority groups to be represented.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said leaders representing minority races could be appointed as Senators in the Dewan Negara if there were none elected into the Dewan Rakyat.
"The first-past-the-post system is practised in many countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and India.
"The system is easy to understand by the people and enables them to be close with their elected representatives.
"The Government is not ready to accept the Special Select Committee on Electoral Reform's recommendation to implement the proportionate representation system to replace the existing system," he told Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PAS - Kuala Krai) during question time.
Nevertheless, Shahidan said the Election Commission was currently studying the suitability of the proportionate representation system.
Dr Mohd Hatta then told the minister, who is Arau MP, that it was better to implement the proportionate representation in view of the 13th general election which saw the Opposition winning majority of the popular votes.
Shahidan replied that even if the Opposition garnered more votes, they could not combine their percentages and form the Government under the proportionate representation system as each party contested under their own flags.
This led Azmin Ali (PKR - Gombak) to interject and say, "Pakatan Rakyat has applied to be registered as a coalition. We have waited for three years. Why doesn't the minister dare to register us?"
Datuk Seri Noh Omar (BN - Tanjong Karang) later pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat candidates had contested against each other in certain constituencies during the GE13 which showed that the Opposition pact could not even agree on seats.
Shahidan lauded Noh's comment and described the first-past-the-post system as the best electoral system in the world.
"If there are any problems, then let us solve them within the frame of the current system," he said.
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