An NGO has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to make the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reform a permanent committee.

National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) acting chairperson K Shan said that the PSC would look into areas of concern in the electoral process, as well as to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.

The ad-hoc committee was formed late last year following the Bersih 2.0 rally with a six-month deadline to propose improvements to the electoral system, and it submitted its report on April 3.

However, Shan a statement yesterday said in that “reform is a continuous process and the government and agencies involved must look into examples of best practices and reform procedures and other critical areas regularly.

“This position is vital in terms of prescribing working mechanism and procedures based in a transparent and objective manner.”

In response to de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat that the government is mulling to set up a PSC on muman rights, Shan lauded the decision and said he should start a public consultation on the scope and objective of the committee.

In addition, he said similar efforts should be made in other areas that need reform.