The Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament) wishes all the best to the 16 candidates to the 12^th General Elections who have signed on the initiative's mission statement commitment to table Private Members Bills if elected to the Parliament or State Legislative Assemblies. CSI-Parliament launched its “Operation Private Members Bills” to invite candidates who would commit to be proactive in ensuring meaninful representation to the Parliament. Those who have given their commitment will work with civil society groups and the public to push through legislative changes in these areas: freedom of information, water privatization, gender equality, planning for schools and religious facilities, and local elections.

We encourage voters to consider the commitment of these candidates when casting their ballots tomorrow, 8 March 2008.

The candidates are:

For the Parliamentary Seats:

P48 Bukit Bendera - Liew Chin Tong (DAP)
P50 Jelutong – Jeff Ooi (DAP)

P96 Kuala Selangor - Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad (PAS)
P100 Klang - Charles Santiago (DAP)
P102 Serdang - Teo Nie Ching (DAP)
P105 PJ Selatan – Hee Loy Sian (PKR)

P106 PJ Utara - Tony Phua (DAP)
P107 Subang - Sivarasa Rasiah (PKR)

State Legislative Assembly:

Selangor

N24 Semenyih - S Arutchelvan (PSM)
N28 Seri Kembangan - Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP)
N34 Bukit Gasing - Edward Lee Poh Lin (DAP)
N35 Kampung Tunku - Lau Weng San (DAP)
N37 Bukit Lanjan – Wong Keat Ping @ Elizabeth Wong (PKR)

N39 Kota Damansara – Mohd Nasir Hashim (PSM)

N44 Sungai Pinang - Teng Chang Kim (DAP)

Perak

N31 Jelapang – M. Saraswathy (PSM)

Penang

NI17 Bukit Tengah - Ong Chin Wen (PKR)

Issued on behalf of the CSI-Parliament by Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism. For inquiries, call 03-40230772 or 03-40249840.