KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Newly registered civil society NGO Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) called today for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to hold the 13th general elections only after any proposals mooted by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms are carried out.

If general elections are held only after the PSC completes its work, that would mean polls can be held no sooner than April next year.

“We welcome the move by the government to refer the matter to Parliament and urge them to carry out the PSC’s proposals before calling the 13th general elections,” said Amanah president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (picture) at a press conference.

Amanah deputy president Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said there was still time for Putrajaya to implement reforms as their mandate only expires in March 2013.

“We still have time, no need to rush,” he said. “If the general election is held before that, the PSC will look like it was not a serious initiative and only for drama. Even members of Barisan Nasional (BN) want elections only after PSC reforms are implemented.”

Amanah, which was only approved by the Registrar of Societies two weeks ago, was formed to promote unity and inclusiveness.

The multiracial Amanah leadership comprises members from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Among them are former MCA president and Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who is a deputy president, and PAS member Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who is a vice-president.

The PSC comprises five lawmakers from BN, three from PR and one Independent MP.

It was formed in October after a majority vote, to deliberate for six months on the issue of improving the electoral system.

It will hold public hearings from November 11 in Kuala Lumpur and will end with hearings in Johor Bahru in January.