{"id":14381,"date":"2020-07-03T17:52:42","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T09:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/?p=14381"},"modified":"2020-07-10T14:37:34","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T06:37:34","slug":"dear-colleagues-vote-wisely-on-the-removal-of-our-dewan-rakyat-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/dear-colleagues-vote-wisely-on-the-removal-of-our-dewan-rakyat-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear colleagues, vote wisely on the removal of our Dewan Rakyat Speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Press Statement
To my colleagues: please vote wisely<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there are many, conflicting legal arguments being discussed over the last few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some\n argue the Prime Minister has the right to terminate Dewan Rakyat \nSpeaker, Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, and nominate his replacement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others say that\u2019s in your wildest dreams as only Parliament has the power to sack the Speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Muhyiddin Yassin wouldn\u2019t have exercised that discretion, if at all he has one, if he is serious about parliamentary democracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s not on the Prime Minister\u2019s priority list, is it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I mean, he is so terrified of losing power that his focus is on keeping the top job in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at what\u2019s been happening recently: from the high handedness in which we treat refugees and migrants to the police calling my colleague, Hannah Yeoh, for questioning and the ludicrous charge against Steven Gan and Malaysiakini: everything reeks of playing to the voter base or shaking in fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone would agree that Mohamad Ariff was credible, impartial, and a reformer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t feel the need to curry favour and was critical of Pakatan Harapan lawmakers as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appointment of an Opposition member as head of the powerful Parliamentary Accounts Committee, for example, spoke volumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Special Select Committees were formed to allow lawmakers to play effective roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The setting up of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to provide parliamentary interphase with civil society and various stakeholders was innovative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this might bite the dust, but are we really that powerless? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Muhyiddin may or may not have the discretion to nominate his own man, it\u2019s Parliament that decides whether Mohamad Ariff will be removed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, here is a request to my colleagues from both camps: please vote wisely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliaments are a core institution in any democratic society, representing citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a place where the voices of the people are heard, through elected representatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To highlight this, Bersih has started an online petition urging the rakyat to exercise their right in deciding whether the Speaker should stay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The election watchdog is clearly asking the people to vote the person who has the interest of the rakyat at heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the lawmakers, must do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yes, the debate on the removal of the speaker should only take place, once the Prime Minister shows Parliament that he indeed has a majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles Santiago
MP for Klang
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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