KUCHING: There is no basis to a call by an assemblyman for the removal of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
The appointment of the DUN speaker was made by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister under Article 15(1)(a) of the Sarawak State Constitution, said Deputy DUN Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala.
Article 15(1)(a) reads, “The Yang di-Pertua Negeri shall, acting on the advice of the Chief Minister, appoint a Speaker from among persons who are members or qualified to be elected as members of the Dewan Undangan Negeri under Article 16.”
Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei made the call at a press conference after he attended a hearing before the Committee of Privileges of DUN Sarawak regarding the breach of parliamentary privileges here on Monday.
Gerawat said the Chief Minister as leader of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) commanded the confidence and support of 72 elected members out of 82 elected members.
“Wong King Wei, on the other hand, has only seven elected members from DAP.
“There is no parliamentary practice in the world that heeds the call of a seven elected member-party for the removal of the Speaker against the massive overwhelming majority of 72 elected members.
“It is unthinkable for such a call to take place and to be taken seriously,” he added.
Gerawat said Wong was referred to the Committee of Privileges for his offensive, acrimonious and vitriolic remarks made in the august House against the Dewan, the Executive and Speaker thereby abusing his privilege as a member.
Wong’s referral to the Committee of Privileges was consistent with the Westminster Parliamentary and Standing Order 89 and under Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice 24th Edition, he added.
According to Gerawat, the decision was consistent with Jeyaratnam’s case in Singapore when he was referred to the Committee of Privileges for his remark against Parliament and the Prime Minister.
On Wong challenging the legality of the hearing which was chaired by Gerawat and not the Speaker on Monday, Gerawat said the definition of Speaker included Deputy Speaker under Standing Order 2 of the DUN Privileges and Powers Ordinance 2007.
The proceedings of the Committee of Privileges meeting, he said, would be compiled in a report and tabled in the coming DUN sitting.
This report would be debated and Wong could defend himself against any recommendation of the committee, he added.
