Speaker told not to be a 'dictator'
Malaysiakini.com
May 5, 2008 
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz & Beh Lih Yi 

The new house speaker was today warned by a veteran opposition leader not to act like a dictator, and other round-ups from the house.
MCPX

Speaker told not to be a ‘dictator'

Veteran politician Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) has asked the Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia not to practice "dictatorship" during the question session today.

This came after the Speaker told the house that he would not allow any MPs to make a point based on the standing orders - unless it would help to ensure a smooth proceedings - until after the 90-minute question session.

abdul razak baginda mongolian model murder 141206 karpal singhA brief argument immediately ensued between Pandikar and Karpal, who attempted to cite the standing orders to argue that it was incorrect for the speaker to make the ruling.

"The speaker shouldn't be practising dictatorship," said Karpal to jeers from the BN backbenchers. Pandikar however stressed that he was acting on provision in the standing orders.

The speaker's ruling was seen as a move to ensure an uninterrupted question session after a noisy session during its first sitting last Wednesday, which was telecast live over state-owned RTM for 30 minutes.

Ngeh: Ahmad Zahid ‘unscrupulous'

Perak senior state exco Ngeh Koo Ham has described Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call for Ngeh to be stripped of his datukship as "unscrupulous" and an attempt to "rope in the palace to fight Pakatan Rakyat".

Ngeh, who is also Beruas MP, told reporters at the Parliament lobby that the DAP recognised and upheld the Federal Constitution and constitutional monarchy.

Ahmad Zahid made the call yesterday after criticising Ngeh for going against the Perak Palace who ordered for the reinstatement of the state's Islamic affairs director Jamry Sury.

Jamry was earlier transferred from his post by Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin. It has been widely speculated that Jamry was uncooperative with the Pakatan state government.

Ngeh said that although his statement did not pertain to Jamry specifically, it was a general statement of principle applicable to all governments.

Civil servants who cannot work or disagree with the state government of the day should work elsewhere or step down, added the Perak exco.

PM: No complaints over RM200 ‘balik kampung' bribe

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has not received any complaints over allegation that BN had ‘bribed' Kelantan voters with RM200 in order for them to travel back to their hometown during the March 8 poll.

The answer was stated in a written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) today by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The premier added that the Election Commission also has not received any information about the allegation made by Kok.

‘No' to automatic voters registration system

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah civil servants forum 280108 talkingPrime Minister Abdullah also has turned down the suggestion to implement an automatic voters registration system for about four million youths who are yet to register as voters.

In a written reply to Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) today, the premier said the system will lead to a few "complications" to the voters themselves, if implemented.

This include the possibility of confusion on where the voters shall cast their votes if they do not update the latest residential address with the national registration department, or resulting in a lower turnout if the voting centre located too far away from their registered residential address.

"In view of that, we are worried that the voting turnout will reduce and affect our country's image in the eyes of the international community. Based on this, the Election Commission is not ready to implement the automatic registration system," Abdullah said in the reply.

The premier also indirectly shot down Liew's suggestion for a royal commission on electoral reform, saying any unsatisfied party with the election process can challenge the process through election petition in court.

No date for Damansara school reopening

Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was non-committal on when the original Damansara school would be re-opened after it was closed for more than seven years.

In a written reply to Hee Loy Sian (PKR-PJ Selatan), Hishammuddin would only say the ministry would determine on its next course of action following a visit to the school on May 2.

wee ka siong visit damansara school 020508 wee ka siong and chew mei funThe visit was led by the Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong.
"A visit was held on May 2 to look at the real situation and the next course of action before any date or any decision is made with regards to the reopening of the original Damansara school," said the minister.

MP alleged to buy Umno post with RM6 mil

A backbencher has challenged Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) to repeat a claim outside the house that he has allegedly used RM6 million to ‘buy' an Umno division chief post.

Azmin made the claim while interjecting the debate on the royal address by Dr Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat), who was criticising PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's double standard when the ex-deputy premier was in the government, in the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.

Although the Gombak MP did not name any individual, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) however jumped to his own defence and swore on Allah's name that he had not done so.

He also argued that he was expelled from Umno by Anwar then without a solid charge.

"Anwar wants to be the prime minister, he was working hand in hand with the menteris besar to get the support and was willing to betray me who has contributed to him," Tajuddin told the house.

The Pasir Salak MP then challenged Azmin, a long time aide to Anwar since his Umno's days, to repeat the claim outside the house and face legal action.

When met later by reporters at the lobby, Azmin however said he has not named anyone in particular and would not entertain Tajuddin's challenge.

UM's campus to stay put

Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government has no plan to move the current Universiti Malaya (UM) campus in Kuala Lumpur to another site.

He said this in a written reply to M Manogaran (DAP-Telok Intan).

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