What impeachment? Najib is just afraid of rational debate with Anwar

I refer to the statements by Umno-linked lawyer Shafee Abdullah and BN Senator S Nallakaruppan on 28 March that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should be impeached by Parliament for 'misconduct'.

They were relying on and parotting the same old charges of sexual misconduct which were fabricated by successive BN governments against Anwar Ibrahim, with the collaboration of the police and A-G.

The rakyat have never believed these shameful lies, and have thrown their support, trust and sympathy behind Anwar Ibrahim and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition which he leads.

Breathtaking ignorance typical of Umno and BN

Shafee and Nalla's statement also shows breathtaking ignorance of impeachment and parliamentary procedure in Malaysia and the Commonwealth. There is no provision or precedent for impeachment in the Dewan Rakyat.

In England, the procedure was last used over two hundred years ago in Lord Melville's case and is now obsolete. The rationale of the impeachment remedy was to hold Ministers and the Executive accountable in the administration of the country.

To suggest that it be used against the Opposition leader shows a gross misunderstanding of the impeachment process. With the evolution of the motion of no confidence, select committees and close parliamentary scrutiny and questioning, the old impeachment mechanism has become archaic.

Sinking back to gutter politics

Shafee's example of the impeachment of Bill Clinton shows his utter incomprehension of the impeachment mechanism in America, where impeachment is used as a method to remove members of the Federal government such as the President.

It is preposterous and bizzare for Shafee and Nalla to threaten the Opposition Leader with the ancient and superseded impeachment process.

Once again, we see the complete inability of Prime Minster Najib Razak and the BN to engage in rational debate and discourse with the political opposition.

Instead, Najib and Umno continue to rely upon low and baseless personal attacks by the likes of Nallakaruppan and his cohorts, which are prominently reported in the Umno owned electronic and print media.

N SURENDRAN IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT