DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh wants senators to be elected in all states, even those ruled by Pakatan Rakyat.

NONE Karpal ( left ) is planning to propose, by way of a Private Members Bill, for elections of senators according to Section 4(b) Article 45 of the federal constitution that "provide that the members to be elected for each state shall be elected by the direct vote of the electors of that state".

Currently, all senators are appointed by the respective state governments.

"Vote of electors here means voters of the state. There should be no more appointments.

“Even if BN says they cannot do it, we can take the lead, but a law on it needs to be enacted by parliament first.

"State assemblies in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan also nominate senators, that, too, must stop," Karpal said at a press conference in Penang today.

It is not fair, he said, to impose on the rakyat personalities who do not have their backing.

“It is not a question of disrespecting the constitution".

'Not against constitution'

Karpal had last week courted controversy when he suggested that the senate should be abolished as it did not serve any purpose.

NONE The Bukit Gelugor MP was accused by Senate President Abu Zahar Ujang ( right ) of disrespecting the federal constitution but he vehemently denied doing so.

Karpal said the question of disrespecting the constitution does not arise, as he was seeking amendments to it over the issue of the senate.

He added that the senate, time and again, had been used for cabinet positions when senators should be elected by the rakyat and not appointed by a minority government.

Parliament is made up of Dewan Rakyat, Senate and the Yang diPertuan Agong, but he said it should just be the Dewan Rakyat and King.

"The constitution has been amended many times by BN, how can my suggestion be disrespectful?" he asked.

"The senate president has no business to teach me about law, he was nominated when I was elected with a relatively high majority.

"He cannot stand on moral grounds and preach to me, some senate members are rejected by the people," he added.

NONE Karpal then pointed out to P Waythamoorthy ( right, in photo ), who leads a faction in Hindraf and who was appointed a deputy minister in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet last week.

"How he can creep into senate I cannot understand. He has betrayed the Indians and has been condemned  even by his own brother," he said.

"Rightly so. One cannot betray people or else he or she deserve to be humiliated until departure from earth," he added.