http://aliran.comWhat is not democratically possible can be done undemocratically!
What is not democratically possible, it seems, can be achieved undemocratically.We witnessed this despicable undermining of parliamentary democracy in the shameful episode of the Perak debacle.
We have witnessed today another sordid attempt to make a mockery of the parliamentary system in the quest for power.
The pattern is obvious; the method is devious. It is undoubtedly a deliberate attempt to secure the two-third majority the BN lost in the 12th General Election in March 2008.
Apparently, in this attempt justice is being trampled upon with impunity and shamelessly. The lust for power drives the BN to adopt unethical means to pulverise the Opposition by the tyranny of the BN majority.
It is a pity that the august institution of Parliament was reduced to a shambles, ignoring totally the sacred principles of natural justice. There was not even the pretence of going through the motion of a civilized debate. It was bizarre!
How could the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee deny Anwar Ibrahim the right to be heard defend himself? How could this Committee come to any conclusion by refusing to hear Anwar’s right of reply? How could this Committee lay any claim to being fair, unbiased and guided by the principles of justice when it did not even allow Anwar to be represented by his Counsel?
The Chairman of this Committee was the Speaker of the Parliament. According to the records of the Hansard, the Speaker had assured Anwar thatthat he would be given the opportunity to defend himself at the rights and privileges committee meeting. Yet as Chairman of the Committee, he did not honour his word and permit Anwar to appear before the Committee to defend himself.
He cannot claim that “there was a motion from the committee member, saying that there was no need to listen to the defence… And then, I put it to vote. That was all. I didn’t vote in the committee.” There is no merit in his statement.
He had a solemn duty to guide the Committee to observe the principles natural justice. He had violated this sacred duty by seemingly allowing himself to be led by his nose. His task does not simply imply that he only presides without exercising responsibilities of a chairman entrusted to him. He cannot justify his action by simply stating, “I was just a chair of the rights and privileges committee… I didn’t vote.”
As Speaker, he does not vote but that does not mean he cannot exercise his discretion to come out with a ruling. Doesn’t he as Speaker over-rule motions submitted for debate and uphold certain points raised by the MPs? Doesn’t he have certain authority as Chairman to ensure that the conduct of the Committee is rooted in justice?
Karpal had a point when he pointed out that there was a conflict of interest in the Speaker when he chaired the House session. Pandikar was the Chairman of the committee which recommended Anwar’s six-month suspension from Parliament. How can he be neutral in this issue when he presides as Speaker? Karpal rightly pointed out, “You have lost your moral authority to sit in the chair.”
From what was reported, Karpal was to be admonished according to the report of the rights and privileges committee. How then did it take a turn and suddenly become suspension from Parliament? Who twisted this fact to punish Karpal? The suspension of Azmin and Sivarasa was also very peculiar. They were not asked to show cause and neither were they allowed to defend themselves. No sufficient notice was given; instead the whole charade was rushed through as if the BN just wanted to get over with this nasty episode.
Without a tinge of conscience the tyranny of the majority prevailed for a purpose. The BN now is within sight of a two-thirds majority in Parliament. If it achieves that, it can do whatever it wants without a care for the rights of the minority. The Federal Constitution is in danger of being mutilated, as has been the case, under the BN.
We are reminded of what Edmund Burke said about tyranny: “The greater the power the more dangerous the abuse.” As some wit once said, a government that fails to honour the law on which it is based only invites rebellion. No sane Malaysian wants to go that way.
What is not democratically possible can be done undemocratically!
P Ramakrishnan is president of Aliran.
Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) (National Consciousness Movement)
103 Medan Penaga, 11600 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 (0)4 658 5251 Fax: +60 (0)4 658 5197
e-mail: aliran@streamyx.com
Website: http://www.aliran.com/
ALIRAN is a reform movement dedicated to Justice, Freedom, and Solidarity and is listed on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
To subscribe to Aliran Monthly, click http://www.aliran.com/oldsite/
To become an Aliran member, click http://www.aliran.com/content/
To donate to Aliran, click http://www.aliran.com/content/
To subscribe to the Aliran e-mailing list, send an e-mail to alirankn-subscribe@
To subscribe to the Charter2000 e-mailing list, click charter2000-subscribe@
KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Dis: Keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan bahawa mahkamah boleh mengenepikan keputusan Speaker Dun Perak kini bakal makan tuan apabila Pakatan Rakyat mahu mencabar keputusan Speaker Dewan Rakyat.
Ada seorang menteri Umno@Apco berkata ahli Pakatan Rakyat bodoh dan gila berikutan cadangan mengheret Speaker ke mahkamah. Kalau tak silap menteri tu jaga bab undang-undang. Gambar-gambar ni pernah disiarkan dulu. Cuma nak ajak semua berfikir kalau anak sendiri tak tahu nak didik dan jaga dengan baik, orang ni yang kita nak harapkan jaga undang-undang negara? Oppss.. selalu orang 'blur' bahagian mata, tapi kita buat pembaharuan sikit. Blur bahagian mulut... AngkasaNuri ada gambar-gambar anak bapa di dalam.
Saya (Lim Guan Eng, gambar kiri) ingin menasihatkan Mohamad Fadzil supaya janganlah berpura-pura sebagai kontraktor kalau lebih berminat jadi orang politik yang sentiasa serang kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang. Adalah lebih baik beliau letak jawatan sebagai YDP Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Pulau Pinang dan bertanding dalam pilihanraya besar kalau nak jadi orang politik.
Dalam kekecohan yang telah dilaporkan segera oleh laman web berita, aku yang berperut buncit memerhatikan sesuatu yang wajar dibangkitkan dalam ulasanku mengenai peranan Speaker dalam Kangaroo court yang juga berperut buncit yang kononnya "above politics" semasa kekecohan berlaku.
Tidak lama selepas itu, Pandikar (gambar kiri) mencadangkan mereka membuat usul jika tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan dan interprestasinya berhubung Peraturan Dewan. Sejurus selepas itu, Ketua Whip Ahli Parlimen Parti Keadilan Rakyat Azmin Ali terus bangkit lagi dan berkata, "Tetapi awak tidak mahu terima usul kami!"
Setelah usul menggantung Ketua Pembangkang diluluskan tanpa perbahasan dan dibaca usul seterusnya untuk menggantung Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh, Ahli Parlimen Subang Sivarasa Rasiah dan Azmin (gambar kanan), Speaker menanyakan ahli dewan sekalian: Perlukah usul dibahaskan?
Meskipun sesungguhnya 2/3 majoriti merujuk kepada 2/3 daripada jumlah ahli parlimen sedia ada, kita hanya yakin dengan Speaker yang benar-benar "above eksekutif", bukan Speaker Kangaroo Court yang cenderung untuk membuat penafsiran "luar biasa" secara muktamad!
Sedangkan Ketua Pembangkang telah menerima jaminan daripada Speaker semasa prosiding dalam Majlis pada 22 April 2010 dan pada Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kedua dan Ketiga pada 8 Jun 2010 dan 9 Jun 2010 bahawa beliau akan dibenarkan untuk mendengar semua keterangan saksi yang diberikan di hadapan Jawatankuasa dan peluang untuk bertanyakan soalan kepada saksi-saksi. Apakah penjelasan Speaker terhadap conflict of interest yang berlaku semasa beliau berperanan sebagai Pengerusi Jawatankuasa? Apakah penjelasan Speaker terhadap tafsiran luar biasa yang diputuskan secara muktamad?
Setelah menyaksikan babak-babak Kangaroo Court pagi ini, aku yang tidak mengharapkan Perdana Menteri 1Malaysia mencabar dan membantah sekuat-kuatnya kepada Kerajaan Singapura apabila beliau dikaitkan dengan kes pembunuhan Altantuya menurut Wikileaks, kini juga tidak mengharapkan Speaker Kangaroo Court membuat keputusan muktamad yang benar-benar muktamad dan "above" keputusan Kerajaan 1Malaysia.
"Ini adalah saat yang terbaik, ini adalah saat yang terburuk; ini adalah zaman kearifan, ini adalah zaman kebodohan; ini adalah era mempercayai, ini adalah era syak wasangka; ini adalah musim Kecerahan, ini adalah musim Kegelapan…"