Motions on money politics and ‘corrupt’ CM rejected
By Joseph Tawie, FMT
KUCHING: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Asfia Awang Nasar yesterday rejected bids by opposition DAP to debate money politics in the recent state elections and allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.
Citing various ground to support his decision, Asfia rejected Opposition Leader Wong Ho Leng’s move to table the two motions.
In tabling his first motion, Wong who is Bukit Assek assemblyman said that vote buying had been rampant in Tamin constituency in the April 16 election as alleged by Malaysian election observers.
According to Malaysian Election Observers (MEO), payments were made in cash and by way of cheques which were issued by the CM’s office.
“The above allegation is serious as it implies gross criminality against the state and casts severe aspersions on the integrity of Sarawak chief minister’s office and the government of the state.
“Elected representatives who are wakil rakyat must be elected honourably and at the voters’ free will without being tarnished by the involvement of money,” he said.
“It is moved that this house condemns bribery, corruption, corrupted practice and money politics in Sarawak’s election.
“Two, (we seek for) this house (to) establish a committee to investigate the usage of money to buy votes in 2011 Sarawak’s election, and three, similar strategy of vote-buying must stop in order to ensure the purity of the electorate and the sanctity of the election process,” he said.
MACC investigating Taib
In rejecting the motion, Asfia cited various grounds including Standing Order 23 (6) which states that ‘no motion relating to a matter contained in a federal list shall be in order.’
His second reason for rejecting Wong’s motion was based on Standing Order 24 (2) where the motion was not signed by a member who wanted to move the motion but by another member.
“On these two grounds the motion was rejected as it is out of order.
“I have given my ruling. If you are not happy with the ruling you can apply for a substantive motion.
“Under standing order 86, there is no appeal, except upon a substantive motion. That is my ruling,” he said.
The speaker directed Wong to proceed with his second motion.
Reading his motion, Wong said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had confirmed that it is currently investigating the chief minister of Sarawak over an allegation of timber corruption.
