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Prime Minister should consult with the Opposition on the appointment of the new Speaker who should have the vision and commitment to make the Malaysian Parliament a first-world Parliament through far-reaching  parliamentary reforms and modernization
 


Media Statement 2
by Lim Kit Siang

(Parliament House, Tuesday): The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should consult with the Opposition on the appointment of the  new Speaker of Parliament. 

Although the Barisan Nasional, with its  nine-tenth parliamentary majority, can on its own decide who should be the new Speaker, the Prime Minister should respect parliamentary convention and consensus to appoint a Speaker who has the full support of all MPs, both government and opposition.

 

The new Speaker should be able to rise above partisan party considerations to develop and uphold a parliamentary tradition and culture to transform the  Malaysian Parliament into a first-world Parliament, which could be a model for developing countries whether in the Non-Aligned Movement or the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), for both of which Malaysia is currently chair.

 

For this reason, the candidate for the new Speaker of Parliament should be one who has the vision and commitment to make the Malaysian Parliament a first-world Parliament through far-reaching parliamentary reforms and modernization. 

(26/10/2004)


* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman