Azalina's resignation paves the way for parliamentary reforms - Kit Siang

 

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the resignation of Azalina Othman Said as the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker has paved the way for newly-minted Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to enact major parliamentary reforms.

The suggested reforms include appointing someone from the opposition as the deputy speaker to replace Azalina.

“The resignation of Azalina as deputy speaker opens the way for far-reaching parliamentary reforms, where a deputy speaker comes from the opposition.

“But this must be part of major parliamentary and institutional reforms which the new prime minister must commit himself to carry out.

“There are many things which the new prime minister must commit himself to do, in particular a ‘whole-of-society’ strategy and approach to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lim said in a statement today.

As such, he said Ismail Sabri should be open to criticisms and suggestions, specifically from experts on issues such as the dropping of general practitioners from the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), the acceleration of the vaccination roll-out in states outside of the Klang Valley and other related issues.

Lim Kit Siang

Not only Ismail Sabri, but all parties need to return to the bedrock principles within the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara, Lim said, as it is the only way to resolve the political crisis in the country.

The bedrock principles as enshrined within the constitution and the Rukun Negara are a constitutional monarchy based on parliamentary democracy, the doctrine of separation of powers, the rule of law, upholding good governance and human rights, he added.

“We must return to normality before we can embark on the next stage of national endeavour – to fulfil Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman’s aspiration for the country to be ‘a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world’.

“But before we can be ‘a beacon of light’ to the world, we must achieve the status of a world-class great nation and not be in the trajectory of a failed state.

“This is the challenge facing the new prime minister,” Lim said.

Yesterday, Azalina confirmed her resignation as the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, saying she hoped her decision would spur a “reset” of the upcoming Parliament sitting.

Her resignation follows the installation of a new government under Ismail Sabri, who is also an Umno vice-president. - Mkini