Dato Gerawat Gala
KUCHING: The appointment of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker is made by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister under Article 15 (1)(a) of the State Constitution.
In stating this, Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala said Article 15 (1)(a) reads: ‘The Yang di-Pertua Negeri shall, acting on the advice of the Chief Minister, appoint a) a Speaker from among persons who are members, or qualified to be elected as elected members, of the State Legislative Assembly under Article 16’.
The Chief Minister as leader of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) commands the confidence and support of 72 elected members out of 82 elected members, he stressed.
“Whilst the member of Padungan, Wong King Wei, has only seven elected members of Democratic Action Party (DAP).
“There is no parliamentary practice in the world that heads the call of a 7-elected member party for the removal of Speaker against the massive overwhelming majority of 72 elected members.
“It is unthinkable for such a call to take place and to be taken seriously,” said Gerawat.
He added if the call of Wong King Wei is heeded, then no subsequent Speaker can last more than three months because a Speaker is removed every time a lone opposition member asks for his removal.
Wong is referred to the Committee of Privileges for his offensive, acrimonious and vitriolic remarks made in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) against the State Legislative Assembly, the Executive and Speaker, thereby abusing his privilege as a member, according to Gerawat.
Gerawat further said his referral to the Committee of Privileges is consistent with Westminster Parliamentary and Standing Order 89 and under Erskine May’s ‘Parliamentary Practice’ 24th Edition.
The decision is consistent with Jeyaretnam’s case in Singapore when he was referred to the Committee of Privileges for his remark against Parliament and the Prime Minister, he added.
The Committee of Privileges sat on February 18, 2019, chaired by the Deputy Speaker (Gerawat).
The Speaker is chairman of the Committee of Privileges. The definition of ‘Speaker’ includes Deputy Speaker under Standing Order 2 of the DUN Privileges and Powers Ordinance 2007.
The proceedings of the Committee of Privileges meeting are compiled in a report which will be tabled in the coming DUN sitting.
The report will be debated and the member for Padungan can fully participate and defend himself against any recommendation of the committee.