By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 13: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen (PH-DAP) has withdrawn his insinuation that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak members recommended to sit on the Ombudsman Select Committee lack independent judgement and merely carry out instructions from the party’s top leadership.
While debating the motion of Ombudsman Select Committee, Chong pointed out that he agreed with the setting up of the committee but opposed to the composition of its members which consists of only of GPS members and one independent whom he deemed to be pro ruling coalition.
“How do one expect this select committee to call the Ministers before them to put forward questions, questioning their administration of their ministerial power, their duties? You just need the Minister, or the Premier to give a phone call, and they (select committee members) will be 乖乖听话.
“You know what does that mean, 乖乖听话? ‘Obediently follow the instructions of the Minister or the Premier’, just like our DUS (Sarawak Legislative Assembly here,” said Chong.
He stressed that the purpose of the DUS and legislature is to provide oversight over the administration and executive powers. However, he questioned when this supervisory role had ever been genuinely carried out. According to him, the DUN has become merely a rubber stamp for the executive, and the proposed select committee, given its composition, would be no different. He argued that its members owe their loyalty to GPS, as they were nominated by the coalition and contested in parliamentary and State elections at the behest of the Premier.
Pointing out that there are two opposition members from DAP – Pending assembly woman Violet Yong and himself, he urged their candidacies to be considered.
“Why are you so fearful to include one of us in the select committee? Mr Speaker, in the Parliament, all the select committees constitute members from both sides of the House. Certain select committee was even chaired, not was, is even chaired by the opposition member of Parliament, and that gives the confidence to the people that the select committee will truly perform its supervisory and oversight duty over the administration.
“So, Mr Speaker, although we have the state-of-the-art, or a very grandiose, to the best looking, or the biggest building in the whole Malaysia (referring the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Comlex), but in terms of democratic practice, in terms of the spirit of democracy, it is very lacking, and it leaves much to be desired, and a lot to improve, and I will call upon the Deputy Minister (in the Premier’s Department for Integrity and Ombudsman Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya) to take up this motion to start the reform within this DUS today, with this —the amendment of this motion, to include members of the opposition in the members of the Select Committee, and (to ensure that it is) not a bogus one.
At this juncture, Tupong assemblyman Datu Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-PBB) interjected, citing the standing order that a member shall not impute improper motives to another member, nor make statements or allegations against them.
“Just now, the Honourable Member of Padungan said with one phone call… I don’t understand what it means, but, it refers to an improper motive by saying that, ‘All (the Ombudsman Select Committee members) bow down (to party or government top leadership) without having their own moral decision’. Do request him to withdraw his statement,” Fazzrudin requesting Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
“That is a fact, you are all subject to GPS party whip,” Chong interrupted.
“You are assuming, that is an assumption,” said Fazzrudin.
”That is a fact. The party whip, you have to tow the party line. You are not going to tow the party line?” Chong challenged.
“We have moral. They (recommended members for Ombudsman Select Committee) have their own moral,” said Fazzrudin.
“Do you have to follow your party line?” Chong continued to press.
“We have our own moral. Like you in Parliament, you have your own whip, and if the speaker asks you to do something which is not good, would you follow? Mr Speaker, Please, withdraw (the statement). Please withdraw, on that part.”
“Which part do you want him to withdraw? Which part?” Asked
“When he said, ‘With one phone call.’ Then he continued in Chinese, which I don’t understand, and he translated it…” Fazzrudin replied.
“乖乖听话. 乖乖听话. (Obediently follow the instruction). And what he (a person) has to do (after receiving instructions from GPS top leadership) is immediately following instructions,” Chong offered.
“When the instruction is improper, we will not follow. So you are giving improper motive,” said Fazzrudin.
“Okay, I rule that you (Chong) withdraw those words, and do not use the word ‘bogus’ on the honourable members. You said ‘bogus’, you withdraw,” said Asfia.
“Okay, I withdraw. I will rephrase. On one phone call, there is a likelihood that the members of this select committee will be 乖乖听话. That is not an imputing improper motive. There is a likelihood, highly likelihood, that they will be 乖乖听话. Mr Speaker, like what I was saying, justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
Transparency must not only be carried out, but it must be seen to be carried out. And what transparency is there? What accountability is there? With all the members here, party members of GPS (in the Ombudsman Select Committee),” said Chong.
Chong objected to the composition of the Select Committee under the Sarawak Ombudsman framework on the grounds that opposition members were excluded, while all appointed members were from the ruling coalition, with the exception of an independent assemblyman whom he speculated might soon join the coalition. —DayakDaily
