Powerful After All

Two days to go before the first anniversary of the 12th general election. Analyses, commentaries, reviews are aplenty, given the current political landscape which the results of the 8 March 2008 election helped to shape. Any right thinking columnist must write something on it. But I’m not one. Hence I’ll leave it to my learned fellow columnists to do the honour.

I instead will write about speakers. Nor would I like to highlight people who speak at debates and whatnot. I’m talking about speakers of the House. Parliament or state assembly. Speakers, after all, are very much in the news these days.

Many of us tend to take for granted the job of the speaker. We see him simply as a “referee”. Or a judge holding court in the Dewan – be it Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negeri. He makes sure the proceedings go on as scheduled in accordance to the rules and regulations of the House. He makes sure the YB lawmakers do not step out of line. Which is no easy task considering members of the Dewan are protected by immunity. Meaning they can say all kinds of things in the House without fear of being sued for libel etc.

And of course the speaker is often accused by detractors of being bias. He takes sides, they say, with the ruling party. The fact that the speaker is appointed by the ruling party only “strengthen” such accusation. Bias or fair? You decide make your own judgement.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia speaking to journalists in Kuala Lumpur recently among other things said a speaker should be impartial and “not be a servant to a certain political party”. Some folks took that with a “pinch” of salt, (or was it “tonnes” of salt?) judging from responses in blogosphere.

And his “reaction” on the UMNO Youth’s “ambush” on Karpal Singh right at the door steps of parliament recently has not helped his cause either.

However the post of speaker, is often seen or describe as a “compromise”. Not a “kaw tim” between between the ruling party and the opposition. Rather a compromise within the ruling party itself. Example. A party bigwig, despite all his contribution, cannot, for some reason or another, be “accommodated ” in the state exco. But the party leaders still feel the bigwig needed to be rewarded so to speak. Hence he is given the speaker’s post. I don’t know if this is true or not. But that’s what I often hear.

Way back in the 1965, I was made to understand, two powerful UMNO personalities emerged as contenders for the Selangor Menteri Besar post. The Alliance leadership led by Tunku Abdul Rahman had to make a difficult choice. Finally the late Tunku picked someone seen as a “neutral’ as MB. As for the two “contenders”, one was made speaker. ( The second contender, although missed out on posts, was satisfied his arch rival was not appointed MB. He threw his weight behind the new MB). The move was seen as a win win situation. At least it managed to “soothe nerves”. A what you might call “supporter backlash” was averted. No one spoke openly about it. But quietly it was seen that a ‘compromise’ had been achieved.

Anyway, fast forward to days after 8 March 2008. When Pakatan Rakyat formed the Selangor state government, many expected senior YB Teng Chang Khim will be appointed exco. But that was not to be. He was appointed speaker instead. Was this a compromise as well? I don’t know.

In Perak, three term assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong, then with the DAP, was appointed deputy speaker, much to the chagrin of her supporters and her as well. It was said they felt she deserved an exco post considering her long time “ commitment and contribution” to the party. This I must stress is based on hear say. Thus I can’t say for sure if that was the case .

But the reality is the speaker is in deed very powerful. Perak’s V.Sivakumar is proof. Without going into details, many believe Sivakumar is allowed by law to do what he is doing in Perak. And removing a speaker from his post is no easy thing to do either. The same goes for the deputy speaker.

A speaker has got laws to protect him and ensure he can carry out his task efficiently and effective. The Houses of parliament ( Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 is one example.

So how do I end this piece? Well, by saying this. I knew all along that the speaker job is not given to a person just to make him walk away happy and contented after he failed to land a higher post.

I knew the speaker would never allow the people who appoint him force him to “kau tow” to them. I’ve always respected and hold speaker in high esteem. I’m talking about a special one from Selangor. You see, the one appointed speaker way back in 1965, mentioned in the earlier paragraphs, was my father. He carried out his duties responsibly and fairly. May Allah bless his soul. 

Mohsin Abdullah is Editor in Chief News and Current Affairs ntv7 & 8TV.