Pakatan MPs face disqualification if they fail to swear in, says Speaker Pandikar Amin

(The Star) –  Pakatan members of parliament (MP) have been warned that they face the threat of disqualification if they deliberately boycott the swearing in ceremony of parliamentarians this coming June 24 said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

He said that the swearing in of MPs would be the constitutional order of the day and a failure to take the oath, within six months of the start of proceedings, without reasonable excuse would lead to automatic disqualification.

“MPs will have six months to take their oath and until such time, those who fail to do so would be barred from participating in parliamentary proceedings,” he told reporters after officiating a briefing for parliamentarians at Parliament House on Tuesday pending the start of 13th sitting of Parliament this coming June 24.

Though MPs would be allowed to take their oath at a later date before the six-month deadline, he said a deliberate boycott of the swearing in ceremony was tantamount to a mockery of the nation’s democratic institution that could lead to censure by parliament.

He was asked to comment on the possibility of Pakatan MPs boycotting the start of parliament this June 24 and the consequences that could follow.