People's representatives - that is what a Member of Parliament(MP) is supposed to be , and that means acting without fear or favour to uphold the cause of justice - for the good of the people of Malaysia...
BUT do Malaysian MPs do that?
OR are Malaysian MPs just 'YES MEN' to their own political party 'bosses'? - they will follow what their 'party bosses' say even if it means failing their responsibilities to the people they represent OR acting for the best interest of the country..(or the people)..
HOW DO YOU REMOVE A PRIME MINISTER? (Same as how to remove a Menteri Besar..)
Malaysian Federal Constitution Article 43(4) provides the answer..
(4) If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.
So, the majority of our MPs must openly express that they no longer have the confidence in Najib Tun Razak being the Prime Minister...
Now, for the MPs
- Do MPs have the GUTS to make up their own mind and act for the good of the people of Malaysia?
- Do MPs have courage to act in accordance to their values, sense of justice, consccience, etc?
- Do MPs exercise their own freedom of expression and/or freedom of opinion?
Sadly, many of our MPs are only 'GOOD FOLLOWERS' ...
- they just say and do what their leaders tells them to do,
- the opinion they express is only the opinions of their leader - hardly an opposite view,
- they vote according to what their leader(or party), vide the WHIP, tells them,
- some even raise only issues that their leaders allow them to, and all the issues of the people..
THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT WE DO NOT WANT...
Freedom of Expression and Opinions are discouraged, especially when it goes against the party leaders...
Sadly, some of the political leaders and parties insist on that kind of people...
- they still use the 'WHIP' (i.e. where the party directs how the MP/ADUN and even Local Councillors cast their vote) - sadly, this happens not just in the BN but also in the then Pakatan Rakyat(PR).
Hence, the culture of not even being bothered about debates or considering other views or even making up one's mind on how to vote - like Robots they vote as directed by the party leadership(or party) - as informed by the 'Party Whip'...
The usage of the WHIP - really should be restricted to the most urgent of matters, maybe like the passing of a Financial Bill (i.e. necessary for continued spending of the government come the following financial year), but otherwise MPs should be allowed to vote as per what they believe is right - guided by the principles of justice, and for the good of the people (not just the good of Malaysia - but the good of all people in Malaysia).
- Many political parties even make it a WRONG for a member of their party to be seen supporting a view expressed by the Opposition, a wrong to even attend meetings and consultations organized by the Opposition - yes, for the BN, this seem to extend to also activities outside the Parliament (latest - being the case involving Saifuddin, and now the threat to sue former MCA President).
Many of the MPs seem to be just too worried about the consequences - the risk of being 'sacked' from the party, the risk of not being allowed to contest in the upcoming elections, the risk of being removed from the Cabinet...or maybe other posts like 'Commissioners' or 'Directors', etc,... in short, these worries seem be rather self-centered ...
In my opinion, MPs should be restored their freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and definitely the freedom to vote according to their own conscience...
A MP should be guided by the principle of upholding the cause of justice (and/or causes for the good of the Malaysian people) without fear or favour...even from their own political party.
Do the right thing irrespective of the consequences, and people will respect you for that..
How many of such MPs do we have in our Malaysian Parliament today?
MP's of Malaysia, DO YOU STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN NAJIB TUN RAZAK TO CONTINUE BEING THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA?
If Najib loses the confidence of the majority - he can no longer be Prime Minister, and some other who has the confidence of the majority will then be appointed Prime Minister...
So, will the various political parties allow their MPs to vote according to their conscience and for the good of the people...OR will they still tell them how to vote or face the consequences...
More importantly, will our MPs, no matter the risks or potential consequence, vote according to their own conscience and for the good of the people...
MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE - our Opposition parties have been talking about this, but really that is really not the ONLY way, or even the best way. Such a motion could also be stopped by the Speaker...
And, if we look at how the Selangor MB was removed and changed - no motion of no confidence here... I believe the same happened in Trengganu too..
And, if we look at how the Perak PAS MB was removed - again there was no motion of no confidence here...
Hence, all that is required is for the loss of confidence to be brought to the attention of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung (and maybe also the people of Malaysia).
Now, sadly even the Opposition parties are trying to make deals and impose conditions...Priority now is saving Malaysia - not freeing Anwar?
Even if there is to be a change of Prime Minister, more likely than not it will be a new BN Prime Minister - so maybe the Opposition is also not too keen about the removal of Najib, hoping maybe that his continuing to be Prime Minister may help them in the next General Elections...I wonder.
In any event, maybe the Opposition (if not all political parties) should now declare that they will stop using the WHIP, save for voting on particular important legislations..like Financial Bills; And change their policies restoring freedom of expression and opinion to their MPs - including also supporting causes raised by other political parties, or even if it goes against the position of their current leaders...
Let MPs be people's representatives - someone who the people can go lobby on different issues. For now, no use wasting time with individual MPs - the only people that matter seem to be the party leader at the national level...
The effect is that many people today only go to our MPs for favours and monies - not to communicate their stance so MPs can then be true representatives of the people, no more representatives of political parties.
A lot of REFORM is needed...
KUALA LUMPUR: Government backbenchers are bound by the chief
Whip at all times throughout parliamentary sessions, Minister in the
Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said
today (May 9, 2006).
"They are bound by party rules and discipline. The Whip is only relaxed when it is lifted by the chief or the deputy chief Whip," he said at a media briefing after a 45-minute meeting with the BBC committee at Parliament.
"The question of allowing backbenchers to vote according to their conscience does not arise. It is also not right to say the Backbenchers Club (BBC) does not come under the whip which is perpetually in force until otherwise."
On Monday (May 8, 2006), BBC secretary Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan, with the backing of about 30 government MPs, issued a statement asking the executive to allow them to vote according to their conscience in the absence of a direction from the chief Whip.
Nazri said the BBC committee had unanimously accepted his explanation that the current whip had been in force since 1955.
"It was wrong for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) to say otherwise on this by quoting the practice in other Commonwealth countries," he said.
Nazri said there had been occasions when the Whip had been relaxed, citing an emergency motion by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) on the insurgency in southern Thailand last year (2005).
"Although no voting was involved, they could only speak in support of the motion because we gave them the green light," he said.
"In future, if a situation arose which required the Whip's directive, backbenchers can call for time-out to discuss and reach a decision on the matter.
"It has been done before. In the last (parliamentary) session, there was some confusion with the Road Transport Department Act and a 15-minute break was taken to discuss because members were confused.
"If a BN MP is not agreeable to the Whip and does not agree to toe the party line when voting in Parliament, the MP can resign and contest as an Independent and vote based on conscience.
"At this moment the only MP who can speak and vote based on his conscience is Sandakan (Independent) MP Chong Hon Ming.
"Even opposition MPs are also bound by their own Whip system, party discipline and regulations. "
On the position of Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru), Nazri said it was obvious that the former BBC chairman had breached party regulation and discipline when he supported the opposition motion.
Nazri said if Shahrir had not acknowledged his wrongdoing and resigned, disciplinary action could have been taken against him in the form of suspension.
"If the backbenchers had re-elected him after the Whip had accepted his resignation, it would have been a mockery of the disciplinary process within the BN," he added.
He said the BN had previously suspended Deputy Natural Resources and Enviornment Minister Datuk S.Sothinathan for going against the Whip and two MPs, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading), were given warning letters for rooting for the Opposition.
"What will it look like if Shahrir is re-elected. He would have only served a suspension for about two to three days," he said.
Nazri said BBC deputy chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) is now acting BBC head until a new chief is elected. - The Sun - http://www.thesundaily.my/node/174041
THIS IS JUST THE KIND OF PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT WE DO NOT WANT...
Freedom of Expression and Opinions are discouraged, especially when it goes against the party leaders...
Sadly, some of the political leaders and parties insist on that kind of people...
- they still use the 'WHIP' (i.e. where the party directs how the MP/ADUN and even Local Councillors cast their vote) - sadly, this happens not just in the BN but also in the then Pakatan Rakyat(PR).
Hence, the culture of not even being bothered about debates or considering other views or even making up one's mind on how to vote - like Robots they vote as directed by the party leadership(or party) - as informed by the 'Party Whip'...
"If a BN MP is not agreeable to the Whip and does not agree to toe the party line when voting in Parliament, the MP can resign and contest as an Independent and vote based on conscience...."Even opposition MPs are also bound by their own Whip system, party discipline and regulations. "
The usage of the WHIP - really should be restricted to the most urgent of matters, maybe like the passing of a Financial Bill (i.e. necessary for continued spending of the government come the following financial year), but otherwise MPs should be allowed to vote as per what they believe is right - guided by the principles of justice, and for the good of the people (not just the good of Malaysia - but the good of all people in Malaysia).
- Many political parties even make it a WRONG for a member of their party to be seen supporting a view expressed by the Opposition, a wrong to even attend meetings and consultations organized by the Opposition - yes, for the BN, this seem to extend to also activities outside the Parliament (latest - being the case involving Saifuddin, and now the threat to sue former MCA President).
Saifuddin, who was censured for attending the September 22 roundtable dialogue by opposition parties and civil society organisations, recently said he wanted Umno to clarify the show cause letter given to him. - See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/saifuddin-crazy-for-questioning-show-cause-letter-says-umno-sec-gen#sthash.uIi1To5R.dpuf
Two Barisan Nasional backbenchers who broke ranks in supporting an Opposition motion are facing the prospect of disciplinary action. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is the BN whip, hauled up Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) and said he would refer them to the Cabinet refer them to the Cabinet as they had breached party policy. The two had supported a motion by Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang to refer International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary- general Datuk Sidek Hassan to the Committee of Privileges - New Straits Times, 10/4/2005
See also the article that appeared in the Sun (below) - Bound by Whip at all times
Many of the MPs seem to be just too worried about the consequences - the risk of being 'sacked' from the party, the risk of not being allowed to contest in the upcoming elections, the risk of being removed from the Cabinet...or maybe other posts like 'Commissioners' or 'Directors', etc,... in short, these worries seem be rather self-centered ...
In my opinion, MPs should be restored their freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and definitely the freedom to vote according to their own conscience...
A MP should be guided by the principle of upholding the cause of justice (and/or causes for the good of the Malaysian people) without fear or favour...even from their own political party.
Do the right thing irrespective of the consequences, and people will respect you for that..
How many of such MPs do we have in our Malaysian Parliament today?
MP's of Malaysia, DO YOU STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN NAJIB TUN RAZAK TO CONTINUE BEING THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA?
If Najib loses the confidence of the majority - he can no longer be Prime Minister, and some other who has the confidence of the majority will then be appointed Prime Minister...
So, will the various political parties allow their MPs to vote according to their conscience and for the good of the people...OR will they still tell them how to vote or face the consequences...
More importantly, will our MPs, no matter the risks or potential consequence, vote according to their own conscience and for the good of the people...
MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE - our Opposition parties have been talking about this, but really that is really not the ONLY way, or even the best way. Such a motion could also be stopped by the Speaker...
And, if we look at how the Selangor MB was removed and changed - no motion of no confidence here... I believe the same happened in Trengganu too..
And, if we look at how the Perak PAS MB was removed - again there was no motion of no confidence here...
Hence, all that is required is for the loss of confidence to be brought to the attention of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung (and maybe also the people of Malaysia).
Now, sadly even the Opposition parties are trying to make deals and impose conditions...Priority now is saving Malaysia - not freeing Anwar?
Even if there is to be a change of Prime Minister, more likely than not it will be a new BN Prime Minister - so maybe the Opposition is also not too keen about the removal of Najib, hoping maybe that his continuing to be Prime Minister may help them in the next General Elections...I wonder.
In any event, maybe the Opposition (if not all political parties) should now declare that they will stop using the WHIP, save for voting on particular important legislations..like Financial Bills; And change their policies restoring freedom of expression and opinion to their MPs - including also supporting causes raised by other political parties, or even if it goes against the position of their current leaders...
Let MPs be people's representatives - someone who the people can go lobby on different issues. For now, no use wasting time with individual MPs - the only people that matter seem to be the party leader at the national level...
The effect is that many people today only go to our MPs for favours and monies - not to communicate their stance so MPs can then be true representatives of the people, no more representatives of political parties.
A lot of REFORM is needed...
Bound by Whip at all times
Posted on 10 May 2006 - 02:46am
"They are bound by party rules and discipline. The Whip is only relaxed when it is lifted by the chief or the deputy chief Whip," he said at a media briefing after a 45-minute meeting with the BBC committee at Parliament.
"The question of allowing backbenchers to vote according to their conscience does not arise. It is also not right to say the Backbenchers Club (BBC) does not come under the whip which is perpetually in force until otherwise."
On Monday (May 8, 2006), BBC secretary Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan, with the backing of about 30 government MPs, issued a statement asking the executive to allow them to vote according to their conscience in the absence of a direction from the chief Whip.
Nazri said the BBC committee had unanimously accepted his explanation that the current whip had been in force since 1955.
"It was wrong for Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) to say otherwise on this by quoting the practice in other Commonwealth countries," he said.
Nazri said there had been occasions when the Whip had been relaxed, citing an emergency motion by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) on the insurgency in southern Thailand last year (2005).
"Although no voting was involved, they could only speak in support of the motion because we gave them the green light," he said.
"In future, if a situation arose which required the Whip's directive, backbenchers can call for time-out to discuss and reach a decision on the matter.
"It has been done before. In the last (parliamentary) session, there was some confusion with the Road Transport Department Act and a 15-minute break was taken to discuss because members were confused.
"If a BN MP is not agreeable to the Whip and does not agree to toe the party line when voting in Parliament, the MP can resign and contest as an Independent and vote based on conscience.
"At this moment the only MP who can speak and vote based on his conscience is Sandakan (Independent) MP Chong Hon Ming.
"Even opposition MPs are also bound by their own Whip system, party discipline and regulations. "
On the position of Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (BN-Johor Baru), Nazri said it was obvious that the former BBC chairman had breached party regulation and discipline when he supported the opposition motion.
Nazri said if Shahrir had not acknowledged his wrongdoing and resigned, disciplinary action could have been taken against him in the form of suspension.
"If the backbenchers had re-elected him after the Whip had accepted his resignation, it would have been a mockery of the disciplinary process within the BN," he added.
He said the BN had previously suspended Deputy Natural Resources and Enviornment Minister Datuk S.Sothinathan for going against the Whip and two MPs, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading), were given warning letters for rooting for the Opposition.
"What will it look like if Shahrir is re-elected. He would have only served a suspension for about two to three days," he said.
Nazri said BBC deputy chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) is now acting BBC head until a new chief is elected. - The Sun - http://www.thesundaily.my/node/174041
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