Rage against the latrine pushed Pandikar to quit, says BNBBC

(Malay Mail Online) – The lack of a toilet in Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia’s office was the final frustration that prompted his bid to resign as Dewan Rakyat Speaker, the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) said today.

BNBBC chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad claimed Pandikar also had issues with the Senate as the Speaker of the Higher House in Parliament holds a higher position than the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, in terms of protocol, as does the position of the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.

“They’ve made the toilet. That may be the final thing — how can you not pay respect or regard?” Shahrir told reporters when asked if Pandikar was unhappy with the lack of a toilet in his office.

“It’s not just Shahidan. It’s also about the Senate. You have the Senate, the Lower House, the Dewan Rakyat, the parliamentary department, the minister in charge of Parliament — it’s a mixture of many things. It’s not just Shahidan,” the Johor Baru MP added, referring to Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.

Pandikar told a press conference at his home earlier today that he had wanted to quit as Dewan Rakyat Speaker because he was not happy with the way things are run in Parliament.

He said, however, that he was blocked from doing so by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, whom he said refused to accept or even look at his resignation letter.

Pandikar also called for the abolition of the position for the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, noting that the post violates the doctrine of the separation of powers.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker also denied claims that his wish to resign was because of the lack of furniture or amenities in his office, or other “minor issues”.

“My decision was not motivated by sulky feelings at all,” Pandikar said in a statement.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told reporters yesterday that Pandikar had “shamed” him when he denied his intention to quit his post, although the latter had purportedly told him this when they met last week.

Dr Mahathir also suggested that Pandikar’s volte face may have been motivated by a “refurbishing” of his office.

Previously, Bernama had reported Pandikar on Saturday denying Dr Mahathir’s claims he had quit the post.