No Speaker Removed Like This Other Than Trinidad And Tobago, Says Former Speaker
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No other country which adopted the Westminster System has removed their Speaker except for Trinidad and Tobago, said Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tan Sri Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.
But there is no other example, in the United Kingdom, in the House of Commons, for 800 years there has never been a speaker expelled before the expiration of a Parliament.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tan Sri Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof
He said this should be the system practiced by Commonwealth countries, but added that it does not matter as although it is unusual, sometimes something extraordinary will arise and must be decided.
While stressing that Parliament should be dissolved before appointing a new Speaker, he also said that Speakers are appointed by the House, involving the government backbenchers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and also opposition.
He also said maintaining independence between the Legislative and Executive bodies is essential for the system to work efficiently and it should be preserved.
The executive has a role to play, legislative has a role to play, they might as well work together, one cannot control the other, it is wrong. If we accept that one can control the other, then I’m afraid, we’ll be sliding down along a slippery road to some kind of authoritarian government. That will be bad for the country.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tan Sri Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof
Commenting on his removal, he said the position of Speaker has been vacated according to the terms under the Standing Orders and also the Constitution of Malaysia.
I have told from the beginning that I will only leave the position if the Malaysian Constitution is complied with, and it’s the Members of Parliament who decide. Not the Prime Minister. Not the Cabinet.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tan Sri Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof
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