Pandikar told not to take out own failures on MPs

DAP Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik has refused to entertain Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia’s demand for him to resign if parliamentary reforms are enacted by next year.

Ng said Pandikar’s remarks are ‘uncalled for' as it is not the place for an unelected person to ask two elected MPs to resign.

“This has never happened before. The reforms were not tabled due to his own failure and now he wants to ban us from speaking in the house,” Ng told reporters at a press conference at his service center in Jalan Anson, Penang, today.

“Pandikar has abused his power when he said he will invoke Standing Order 35 to disallow us from speaking in the Dewan Rakyat.

“This act is very abusive and it shows he has lost his neutrality and non-partisanship in wanting to continue a personal vendetta against the two DAP MPs,” Ng added.

“We will not resign or retreat. Why should we resign due to your own failure, Pandikar? By pushing you to table reforms, we are in fact supporting you,” he pointed out.

Pandikar has previously said that he was unable to table the reforms in the current session due to a lack of time, adding that Parliament could convene a special sitting to consider emergency matters at any time.

Ng said Pandikar’s reason was 'inexcusable' as the speaker could have convened the special sitting after the meeting to refer Pantai Dalam MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to parliamentary rights and privileges committee for a photo taken with self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram.

“The meeting ended at 4.30pm and Pandikar still had time to table the proposed reforms if he wanted to. He could prolong parliament sessions until midnight and beyond to debate a bill so why not something as important as parliamentary reforms?” Ng asked.

“Pandikar himself said he would forward the reforms to the cabinet on Nov 27 and after obtaining approval, will proceed to table amendments to the parliamentary standing orders to allow for the reforms to take place,” he added.

Second chamber proposed

Ng demanded that Pandikar retract his remarks made against him and Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng on Dec 4 when he said: "I want themto resign or clear their seats if the first phase of the reforms are done early next year during the next Parliament session.

"If they do not resign, even if they stand up a hundred times to speak or debate, I will not invite them to speak under Standing Order 35. They will not get my respect as a speaker," Pandikar was quoted as saying by the BN Backbencher's Club (BNBBC) portal.

Pandikar’s outburst came about after the two MPs told him to resign for his failure in tabling parliamentary reforms at the just concluded sitting so that they can be implemented next year.

Ng said he will not shut up despite Pandikar plans to stop him for speaking in the House or ban him from the proceedings.

He added that reforms were ‘useless’ if the House continues to have a speaker like Pandikar who has a ‘personal vendetta and acts abusively’ towards elected representatives with his remarks.

Ng said the parliament reforms were important as there was a proposal for a second chamber to be formed in the House where emergency motions can be tabled, adjournment speeches be heard and matters related to constituencies be raised all without interrupting the main chamber's proceedings.

“The proposed reforms also include ministerial replies to three questions everyday between 9.30am to 10am in the second chamber where MPs will decide which questions need answers and which minister should attend the session,” Ng said.

“This is where all bills will also be tabled by a standing committee before they are tabled in Parliament. These reforms are truly necessary but the speaker has disappointed us by not pushing them through,” Ng lamented. -Mkini