Motion tabled, debate...then vote (On Opposition MP walk-out)

A motion is tabled...

Then people are allowed to give their views about the Motion. It could be views in support of the Motion. It could be views opposing the Motion. It could be views asking that there be some amendments to the Motion before it is voted on.

Then comes the VOTE - and if it is passed by the Majority, it is carried. If not, it is defeated.

It may have been a simple Motion - but when the Speaker did not allow for debate BUT proceeded to put it to a vote, it was wrong.

And the Opposition MPs were right to protest - and walk-out.

After all, the Opposition MPs may not have objected to it - but that does not matter. A denial of the right to express your views on a Motion before Parliament is a serious matter.

Why Walk-Out? Well, if they did not 'walk-out', the media would not have carried the story & the people will not know.

How long should one 'walk-out"? Just long enough to make the point & get the media attention. Then, MPs should get back inside and participate in the other matters being debated.

Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat after deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee refused to allow a debate on a motion by the Home Ministry.

Earlier, the Home Ministry moved a motion directing the inspector-general of police to ensure that roads leading to Parliament were free from obstacles at all times.

The motion was passed after obtaining a majority approval through voice count, prompting howls of objections from the Pakatan bench.

The motion instructed the IGP to "take care of passages of the streets to the House to be kept free and opened and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passages of the members to and from the House that there be no annoyance therein and thereabouts".

Kiandee said that the motion was tabled by convention at the opening session of every Parliament sitting and it was not common practice for it to be debated.

The frustrated Pakatan MPs, led by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, marched out of the House and refused to partake in the debate on the royal address. 

Lim expressed regret at the Speaker's decision to decline the debate as there were some crucial points that he was going to present on the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry on the police force. 

"Although it is is a convention for a motion like this not to be debated because it is very straightforward, it doesn't mean that we can't have a debate when the MPs who want to debate and I have also debated such motions before," Lim told reporters at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

The Ipoh Timor MP said that he intended to raise the matter relating to a newspaper report claiming IGP Musa Hassan's resignation. 

Allegations that Musa was going to resign to make way for a new appointment on Mar 25, however was denied by the latter, and the Chinese language daily has been asked to explain the intent behind the report.

"This were things I wanted to bring up during the debate but unfortunately it was not allowed," said Lim, peeved over the Speaker's decision. 

Pakatan MPs reject IGP's reappointment

The veteran MP argued that the resignation of the IGP is a "hot topic" as the Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians had opposed the reappointment of Musa when his contract comes to an end in September.

"There (are) a lot of questions... there was a parliamentary roundtable last July where all MPs of Pakatan Rakyat refused the extension of Musa as the IGP, and I had said very clearly that there are 2,000 top police officers (who) want a new IGP, I am sure the whole country will want (the current) IGP to go," said Lim. 

"The doctrine of separation of powers, that the police force is a credible and principled organisation which is not subject to the Home Minister, has to be explained," he reiterated. 

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (left) later told reporters that the Pakatan MPs' antics were "disheartening" because he tabled a motion to ensure the safety of all the MPs.

"As to what they have done in the House today, the act of walking out of the Dewan in relation to the motion which I brought forth which was to ensure their safety, shows that they are willing to do anything to get support and twist an issue for the sake of politics," said Hishammuddin. 

The issues relating to the IGP were unrelated said Hishammuddin, and accused the MPs of "sensationalising and politicising" issues for political mileage. - Malaysiakini, 16/3/2010, Pakatan MPs stage walkout