Lend your ear to
members of Malaysian Parliament
Press Statement
by
Tan Seng Giaw
(Kepong, Thursday):
The
Minister for Parliament in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri
Nazri Aziz should listen attentively to members of the House and
refrain from appointing a Director or Manager with Superscale B over
the Clerk (Setiausaha) of Parliament with Superscale C. Now that he
has done it, has he the courage to undo the damage?
After hearing Nazri defending his decision to appoint a Director or
Parliament Head of Administration with Superscale B to manage the
affairs of Parliament, Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Deputy Chairman
and MP for Kepong, is amazed at the heedless enthusiasm with which
Nazri pursues his objective. His stated aim is to improve services in
Parliament. If he really believes in it, he should get the views of
218 other members who should have a say in how the institution is run.
Instead, he has run roughshod over them.
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has congratulated the Malaysian Senate
House Committee for scheduling a meeting on the issue on 11 November,
2005. It would be interesting to know their decision on Nazri's fait
accompli.
Nazri can explain to members whether he has sought permission from the
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and then the approval
of the Cabinet, hoping that he would upgrade services in Parliament.
Has Nazri an ulterior motive?
Has he enlightened the Prime Minister that putting a Superescale B
officer over the Superscale C Clerk is doing thing upside down? His
prattling about the principle of separation of powers and the
independence of Legislature has been contradicted by his appointment
of the Head of Adminstration or Director Datuk Kamaruddin before
consulting members. The latter has come to Parliament, looking for his
office. A room is being renovated for him as soon as possible.
Members are in favour of establishing Parliamentary Services Committee
as proposed by President of Backbenchers' Club Datuk Sharir Samad. It
is more logical to reenact Parliamentary Services Act that was
repealed in 1993 after the constituional amendment the year before.
(13/10/2005)
* Tan Seng
Giaw,
Deputy Chairman and Member of Parliament for Kepong
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