Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today disallowed four ministerial pay cut motions from three opposition MPs, saying that those token cuts are “tainted with mockery” and an “abuse” of Standing Order 66 (9).

“In other (Westminster) parliaments like India, they do not allow motions to pass that are tainted by the spirit of mockery. In my opinion the (pay cut) motions are tainted with the spirit of mockery,” the speaker told the House this morning.

pandikar amin mulia ukec student summit Pandikar ( left ) stated that MPs can still discuss the matter of a minister’s pay during the committee stage of the 2013 Supply Bill which is ongoing by bringing up the matter, as long as they abide by Standing Order 36(6) and avoid arguing with bad intent.

However, he pointed out that most reasons that will be used to argue the deduction have mostly been touched on in the policy stage debate in the last few weeks.

The Malaysian Parliament, he lamented, is the only parliament in the world where Standing Order 66 (9) is used to cut the pay of ministers.

He believed that such uses for the 66(9) is an abuse of the Standing Order and of the parliamentary process.

Pandikar clarified that he is not issuing a blanket ban or thinking of repealing 66(9) but is using his discretion under Standing Order 57(4) which gives the speaker discretion in handling motions submitted for tabling.

Asked about previous pay cut motions which were allowed by speakers before him, he said that practices change from time to time as the Parliamentary institution is improved from time to time, admitting that they is actually a lot of improvements that must be done in the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders and practices.

Furthermore, Pandikar argued that such a motion, if it is tabled and passed in the House, will also create legal problems as it touches on ministerial privilege.

“The pay of a minister is the minister’s right and the House has no business to take it away.”

His decision, he said, is based on his research into the parliamentary practices of other Westminster-style Parliaments.

Pandikar’s decision, delivered in his chambers this morning, in one swoop rejected four oppositions motions under 66(9) to cut the pay of federal ministers.

The affected motions were:

  • Teo Ni Ching (DAP-Serdang) against Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over the new education blueprint;
  • Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) against Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Minister Ismail Sabri for alleged persecution of human rights NGO Suaram;
  • Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) against de facto Islamic religious affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom for issues involving Islamic pilgrim fund Tabung Haji;
  • Mahfuz against Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha for persisting with the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) for traffic offences.

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