KUALA LUMPUR – It was a rare sight at Parliament today as several senators – typically not ones in the spotlight – protested the suspension of the Dewan Negara sitting, accusing political interference even at the upper chamber of the House.
This comes just a day after their fellow lawmakers in the lower House staged a sizable demonstration following the government’s order for the closure of Parliament, in a move that has been described by many MPs as the death of democracy.
The postponement of sittings of both Houses comes on the back of a royal rebuke over the government’s decision to revoke the emergency ordinances without the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Sharing the same sentiment as their lower House colleagues, senators aligned to the opposition involved in today's protest cried foul over what they claimed was a trampling of democracy, as they demanded Dewan Negara to be allowed to sit.
In a statement issued after their gathering near the front gate of Parliament, the legislators said the revocation of the ordinances effective July 21 was unconstitutional and invalid as it did not go through the House or was assented to by the king.
They also expressed regret that Parliament was ordered shut despite almost all lawmakers having received both doses of the vaccine, qualifying the House to achieve herd immunity.
“We believe that Dewan Negara, which functions as a check and balance of the legislative process, must be free from the executive’s hold which does not respect the parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy, as prescribed in the federal constitution,” the statement read.
Dewan Negara Reform Working Committee chairman Senator Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, leading the protest this morning, said that regardless of what has transpired in the Dewan Rakyat, the upper House should be given certain freedom in conducting its own proceedings.
“We are concerned that the postponement of the sitting is politically motivated. We are not here for politics, and we do not just represent Pakatan Harapan. We represent our states and people.
“We would like to express our strong objection towards the treason committed by the government. We don’t want to be involved in any actions that can damage the good name of the Dewan Negara,” he told reporters when met outside Parliament this morning.
Other than Yusmadi, the protest was attended by Raj Munni Sabu (Senator’s Council secretary), Bob Manolan (Senator’s Council Committee member), Datuk Ismail Yusop (Senator’s Council member), Suresh Singh, Alan Ling Sie Kiong, Adrian Lasimbang, Yaakop Sapari, Ahmad Azam, Lim Hui Ying, and Kesavadas Achyuthan Nair.
In a memorandum that was submitted to Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim, 16 senators expressed their readiness to abide by the Agong’s decree for the emergency proclamation and its ordinances to be tabled and debated in the House.
They said this should be allowed as Senators, who are appointed directly by His Majesty or by the respective state assemblies, represent the voices of various interested groups, and that as such, their rights to sit and debate should not be restricted.
In the letter to Rais, the senators also said it is only wise for Dewan Negara to be allowed to sit to right all the wrongdoings committed in the Dewan Rakyat, after the emergency and its ordinances were cancelled without going through the House.
“Taking into consideration the current situation and the irregularities in the Dewan Rakyat, it is appropriate for the upper House to take this opportunity to correct the situation, to uphold Dewan Negara as the highest legislative body.”
“As such, we urge that the Agong’s decree for Dewan Negara to convene be acceded, so that we can look for solutions to the Covid-19 crisis. We will be honoured to meet you to discuss our good intention,” the memorandum read. – The Vibes, August 3, 2021
