PKR will make a decision tonight as to whether or not its members of parliament should boycott the swearing-in ceremony when the new session of Parliament begins on June 24.

NONE "This will be discussed by the political bureau," strategy director Rafizi Ramli told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

At an earlier press conference today, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said she personally believes that the MPs must respect those who had voted for them and honour that duty.

"As a party member, I support calls to protest electoral fraud (among) other means of protest, but as MPs, we must respect the people's choice," she said.

NONE Zuraida (right) undertook to recommend to the bureau that the oath-taking ceremony should not be boycotted.

The suggestion for Pakatan Rakyat MPs to boycott the swearing-in ceremony was mooted by NGO coalition Suara Rakyat 505, which is protesting alleged electoral fraud in the 13th general election.

The group believes that - since Pakatan itself is objecting to the same alleged irregularities - a boycott would reinforce the protest.

DAP and PAS, however, rejected the idea from the outset.

Yesterday outgoing Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had labelled any such boycott as an insult to his office, Parliament, the Agong and parliamentary democracy.

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