Take the oath or get the boot in six months, MPs warned

Elected representatives who fail to take their oath of office on the first day of the first session of Parliament without good reason will lose their eligibility to remain parliamentarians after six months.

"According to Article 59(1) of the federal constitution, any elected representative who fails to take the oath within six months will be disqualified (automatically)," explained outgoing Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

This, he said, is stipulated in Standing Order 1, which states that the first sitting of Parliament must elect and swear in a new speaker, followed by the swearing in of MPs.

He was asked to comment on what would happen if Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives make good on calls in some quarters to boycott the swearing-in ceremony.

Pandikar had earlier opened a briefing session for members of parliament.

If they do not take their oath of office, elected representatives will not be able perform their role as MPs, he explained.

"The will become strangers to the House. They cannot even sit in there, and they cannot attend sittings or exercise their duties.

“The only time they can exercise their rights without taking their oath is when it is time to elect the new speaker."

To intentionally boycott the swearing-in ceremony is akin to insulting the institution of the legislature and Malaysia's system of parliamentary democracy, said Pandikar.

"It is an insult to Parliament, an insult to the speaker, an insult to the country and an insult to His Majesty the Agong," he said.

‘Action may be taken’

While Parliament may take action against errant MPs, he said those with good reason may schedule another date to take their oath of office.

"But if they boycott the swearing-in (ceremony) and then write to me to schedule another date, I and my deputies can also boycott their swearing-in (ceremony) within the next six months," he joked.

"We cannot allow them to do things (their way). If everyone boycotts, they boycott, I boycott, where will it end?"

Suara Rakyat 505, a coalition of NGOs protesting alleged electoral fraud in the 13th general election, has called on Pakatan MPs to boycott the oath-taking ceremony alongside protest rallies nationwide.

PAS and DAP have rejected the call outright, while said PKR has said it will look into this without making any commitment to date.