KUALA LUMPUR – It is an affront to parliamentary democracy to allow for the “flawed” practice of appointing lawmakers as ambassadors, said the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih).
It said in a statement that the practice is also an act of patronage.
This comes after Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman confirmed his appointment as ambassador to Indonesia.
“An MP must represent voters in Parliament to debate on laws and policies on one hand and attend to voters’ needs in the constituency on the other hand.
“How can one perform the role and duties as an MP when taking up an ambassador’s appointment which requires one’s physical presence overseas?"
Bersih said the move has also demeaned the nation’s diplomatic services as Tajuddin, who is riddled with incidents of public gaffe and controversies, has been picked over career diplomats.
The most recent episode was Tajuddin’s poor handling of last year’s incident that saw the collision of two light rail transit trains in May, resulting in his sacking as Prasarana chairman.
Bersih then cited an example that it is common practice in the United States for politicians who are occasionally appointed as ambassadors, to first resign from their elected office.
“This flawed practice of appointing sitting MPs as ambassadors and special envoys, however, has been in place in Malaysia before 2018, and continued through the Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional governments,’’ it added.
As a means to end such practices, Bersih called for the government to first revoke Tajuddin’s appointment or mandate that he resign as MP if he wishes to retain his ambassador position.
It also urged the government to allow the parliamentary special select committee on international affairs to be given the power to endorse nominees for high commissioners, ambassadors, and special envoys.
Bersih urged the government to amend Article 54(1) of the federal constitution to allow by-elections to be held for a vacancy before the last six months instead of the last two years of a parliamentary term.
Similarly, Bersih also urged for all political parties to enshrine in their election manifesto that ambassadorial appointments would prioritise career diplomats and to agree with all the aforementioned amendments to the federal constitution.
Other examples include the late Rompin MP Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis who was appointed as ambassador to the US (2009-2012), former Kulai MP Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting as special envoy to China (2011-2013) who was then succeeded by Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai (2018-2020) and now held by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Bersih also voiced its concern over another possible appointment of Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, who is rumoured to be appointed as the ambassador to Switzerland. – The Vibes, May 18, 2022
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