GEORGE TOWN, MAY 24- Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh(ohoto) has called on the federal government to invoke Article 45.4(b) of the Federal Constitution to enact a parliamentary statute to enable all states to conduct public elections to elect their respective senators.
He said it was important for all states, governed by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, to conduct election to elect their allotted two senators apiece to reflect representation of people unlike now.
He said if the BN federal government failed to heed to his call, he would even table a Private Members’ Bill in the next parliament sitting to provide for the public election.
Article 45.4(b) of the Federal Constitution states that the Parliament may by law provide members to be elected for each state shall be so elected by the direct vote of the electors of that state.
Karpal, however said he would want a public election for senators from states if the Senate or Dewan Negara was not abolished as he called on earlier.
He also called on Pakatan state governments in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan to stop appointing senators and conduct elections for them.
“The Article provides for an electoral process to elect senators.
“BN government should invoke the constitutional provision to enact a parliamentary statute for senate elections in states.
“If it doesn’t, then Pakatan states should conduct the elections on its own to elect their senators.
“Pakatan states should stop appointing personalities who did not have the people’s backing,” DAP senior parliamentarian Karpal told a press conference here today.
The Dewan Negara has 70 senators, 26 of whom are elected by the state legislative assemblies, with two senators for each state in the federation.
The remaining 44, including four, to represent the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, are appointed by His Majesty the King.
Those appointed must have rendered outstanding service in commerce, industry, agriculture, cultural or social activities, or be representatives of racial minorities, or have competence in representing the interests of the natives of Peninsular and Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
‘Senate a dead wood’
Karpal was responding to a call by Senate President Abu Zahar Ujang on him to respect the rule of law and the Federal Constitution instead of calling for the Dewan Negara to be done away with.
He returned fire that Abu Zahar cannot talk on moral high ground given he was unelected parliamentarian.
“The Senate President has no business to teach me the law. I’m elected by more than 41,000 people,” said Karpal, who is a prominent lawyer.
He described the Senate as a dead wood that must be removed from the parliamentary structure.
“Let’s have only the elected Dewan Rakyat and Monarch.
“Senate has those rejected by the people via backdoor appointments,” Karpal reiterated, insisting that members of Cabinet shall only be those elected by the people.
He specifically questioned the appointment of civil rights movement, Hindraf supremo P Waythamoorthy as a senator and deputy minister under the Prime Minister Department.
“Waythamoorthy had betrayed the Indians and condemned by his own brother.
“I don’t understand how such character can be appointed to the Cabinet?” he asked.
