PKR: Pandikar’s threat unlawful, exposes blatant bias

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s threat to drop Pakatan Rakyat (PR) elected representatives as Members of Parliament is unlawful and exposes his blatant bias towards the opposition, PKR has blasted.

Party vice-president N. Surendran(picture) argued that Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has no legal ground to issue the threat, claiming that the Parliament Standing Orders clearly compel the Secretary of the Dewan Rakyat to administer the oath to any MP who has yet to do so.

“Pandikar’s threat is unlawful and in blatant breach of Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders and the Federal Constitution. Under the Standing Orders, the Setiausaha of the Dewan Rakyat is bound to administer the oath to any MP who has not yet taken the oath.

“This is clear from Rule 5(2) of the Standing Orders which state that ‘a member who has not previously taken the oath may present himself at the table’ and the ‘oath shall be administered to him’,” Surendran said in a statement.

This morning, Pandikar said opposition elected representatives will be dropped as MPs if they boycott the swearing-in process, citing the Federal Constitution in claiming that any lawmaker who misses the swearing-in process without valid reasons will be automatically dropped in six months.

According to the Speaker, the Standing Orders also state that the swearing in cannot take place beyond the stipulated time, which is the first day of the sitting.

“It is shocking and unprecedented for the Speaker to make such unlawful threats against MPs duly elected by the rakyat.

“Pandikar’s outrageous threat exposes his blatant bias against Pakatan MPs and disgraces the high office he occupies,” said first-term MP Surendran.

The accusations of bias against the Sabah-born Speaker are not new. During the 12th parliamentary sitting, Pandikar’s tenure was marred by questionable decisions including the suspension of several PR lawmakers.

He was also notorious for dismissing opposition motions including on issues deemed neutral, prompting PR lawmakers to accuse him of being “a Barisan Nasional (BN) spokesman”.

Surendran reminded Pandikar that he has the duty to perform his duty impartially in accordance with international standards.