If Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia was joking aboutboycotting MPs who boycott the coming swearing-in ceremony for elected representatives, then his levity has found no takers.
PKR vice-president N Surendran reminded Pandikar of Standing Order 5(2), which makes it mandatory for the Dewan Rakyat secretary to administer the oath.
In a statement today, Surendran said Pandikar’s ‘threat’ amounted to "an unlawful breach of the Standing Orders and the constitution".
"This is clear from Standing Order 5(2), which states that ‘a member who has not previously taken the oath may present himself at the table’ and the ‘oath shall be administered to him’,” said Surendran.
"Under the Standing Orders, the secretary of the Dewan Rakyat is bound to administer the oath to any MP who has not yet taken the oath. The speaker and the BN have no powers whatsoever to refuse to swear in Pakatan MPs.”
PKR vice-president N Surendran reminded Pandikar of Standing Order 5(2), which makes it mandatory for the Dewan Rakyat secretary to administer the oath.
In a statement today, Surendran said Pandikar’s ‘threat’ amounted to "an unlawful breach of the Standing Orders and the constitution"."This is clear from Standing Order 5(2), which states that ‘a member who has not previously taken the oath may present himself at the table’ and the ‘oath shall be administered to him’,” said Surendran.
"Under the Standing Orders, the secretary of the Dewan Rakyat is bound to administer the oath to any MP who has not yet taken the oath. The speaker and the BN have no powers whatsoever to refuse to swear in Pakatan MPs.”
Surendran said Pandikar's outrageous "threat" exposed his blatant bias against Pakatan MPs and was a disgrace to the high office he occupied.
Basic principle: Speaker must act impartially
One basic principle of democratic Commonwealth parliaments, he said, was that the speaker must act impartially in presiding over the House and not show any bias.
"Pandikar's threat to refuse to swear-in Pakatan MPs also amounts to a contempt of the Dewan Rakyat as it is tantamount to preventing MPs from carrying out their duties.
It is also a serious breach of privilege, which renders Pandikar liable to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
"Pandikar's threat to refuse to swear-in Pakatan MPs also amounts to a contempt of the Dewan Rakyat as it is tantamount to preventing MPs from carrying out their duties.
It is also a serious breach of privilege, which renders Pandikar liable to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
"This threat by the BN-appointed speaker is consistent with the undemocratic and dictatorial manner in which Najib and the BN continue to administer the country," Surendran added.
At a press conference in Parliament this morning, Pandikar (left) had jokingly said that he and his deputies too could boycott Pakatan Rakyat MPs who deliberately stay away from the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for June 24.
Pandikar cautioned that the federal constitution provided for automatic disqualification of any MP who does not take the oath of office without good reason, and that they would lose their seat after six months.
Pandikar - the outgoing speaker unless he is re-elected when the new session of Parliament convenes - had also expressed disappointment that elected MPs were even considering to be absent without cause, saying this would be an “insult” to Parliament.
At a press conference in Parliament this morning, Pandikar (left) had jokingly said that he and his deputies too could boycott Pakatan Rakyat MPs who deliberately stay away from the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for June 24.
Pandikar cautioned that the federal constitution provided for automatic disqualification of any MP who does not take the oath of office without good reason, and that they would lose their seat after six months.
Pandikar - the outgoing speaker unless he is re-elected when the new session of Parliament convenes - had also expressed disappointment that elected MPs were even considering to be absent without cause, saying this would be an “insult” to Parliament.
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