Every 5 years (or less), the people of Malaysia has the right to vote in accordance with the democracy system to choose the people's representative into the people's assembly.
It is in the august hall that the people's Government are formed and answerable to the people's representatives.
To suspend or bar the people's representatives to enter the people's assembly is a mockery of the democratic system and the people's rights to be represented and be heard.
In this term alone, we saw many people's representatives being barred, suspended, order to leave or chase out from the parliament and state assembly. Incidents such Datuk Siringan Gubat (for saying "ngam..."), Gobind Singh Deo (for calling "murderer"), Zambry and his Perak State Exco (for taking office of Perak State Government or after the committee inquiry), Sivakumar (for refusing to vacate his speaker's seat (literally) and the latest being Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo (for failing to attend the Balkis inquiry).
The 12th term of the Malaysia Parliament shows that the people have elected the people's representatives who formed the "Circus" parliament. (ref: "Live TV Coverage Brings Parliament 'Circus' To The Bedroom" http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=380369).
The Perak State Assembly can't be better with the frog from BN leaped to PR and the frogs from PR jumped to BN which caused the suspension orders against Zambry and his men together with the Speaker been dragged out from the hall.
Other points aside, no elected representatives should be forbidden to enter the hall of people's representatives for any reason which would make their status as people's representatives pointless and yes, this also applies to the situation of Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo (Even though the public may perceived that there maybe sweet vengeance for the 30 months suspension imposed against the imposer of his suspension).
To prevent the role of a people's representative to do his work is like calling the people of his constituency idiots for choosing a defunct and unperformable leader (although he may gain publicity and another term in office by being victim of circumstances). What is more dissapointing is that the outcome of suspension shows no productive outcome, ie, the forum less another member, the people lack another voice to be heard, the media lacks another news creator in the hall and the law is pass without another legislator.
The exercise of power to suspend is a draconian one and should not be exercise as a mode of convenience. Only in a drastic and unpreventable circumstances, should such power be exercise and even if exercise, it should be exercise with care and self restrain. We cannot be expecting the seat of a constituency be vacant/suspend by another person of another constituency(with due respect, eventhough by the Speaker).
One cannot agree with the suspension of any people's representative for a period more than the discussion which he had resulted delay, mockery or difficulty).
A disclosure of interest, I am a resident of Puchong constituency.
Tan Chun Ming
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