If made Umno Youth chief, Azwan promises to donate money to party

Incumbent Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun has pledged to donate 50 percent of his salary as a senator to the movement's coffers should he be elected as Umno Youth leader. 

Azwan said he wanted to contribute money to Umno Youth now that Umno was an opposition party. His tenure ends only in December 2019.

Asked if why wouldn't he contribute the money to Tabung Harapan Malaysia instead, Azwan said his party needed the money more. 

Azwan said he will not quit as a senator despite calls to do so.

"Many people are wrong to think that when Parliament is dissolved, the Dewan Negara will also be dissolved. No, this is not true," he said.

He said the senators are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong instead of the government, thus only the ruler can revoke the current senators.

Azwan said he will nonpartisan when came to passing any government bill.

"I am not going to oppose whatever bills brought by the government just because I am an opposition parliamentarian now," he said.

According to him, there are currently 45 senators appointed by the previous governments.

He said the expiry dates of the three-year terms for the current batch of senators varied as some of them were appointed before the May 9 general election thus their tenures may only end in 2021.

Asked if he will also support the abolition of Anti-Fake News Act 2018, he said he will need to hear what the government has to stay when tabling the repeal at the Upper House.

Observers have noted that the Pakatan Harapan government may not have the support of Senate House the majority of whom are from BN parties.

The Federal Constitution stipulates that senators are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the recommendation of the prime minister.

To this, Khairul Azwan said the new government could not sack the current crop of senators. - Mkini