Pandikar should quit as speaker, says DAP
Published on: Thursday, November 16, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: DAP Sabah Chairman Stephen Wong said Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia should step down from the post of Parliament Speaker if he is unable to be impartial or neutral on political views."Pandikar should not openly challenge the opposition on any political stance. He should be impartial and neutral. ADVERTISEMENT "Even though he issued a statement in his own capacity, it is still wrong for him to openly comment on any political issue," he said a statement, Wednesday.Wong was responding to a challenge thrown by Pandikar who challenged the opposition to state the stance on official religion of Sabah in the course of seeking a return to pre-amendments on matters listed in the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).The Sandakan MP also refuted Pandikar's statement on the status of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia. "We are unique entities and we formed Malaysia together with Federation of Malaya and Singapore. ADVERTISEMENT It was clearly indicated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, IGC report and Cobbold Commission report," he said. He said Pandikar was trying to be hero by attacking the opposition in favour of Umno and Barisan Nasional for his personal interest and gain.
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"I think it is dangerous and unnecessary that Pandikar has brought up the issue of the state constitution amendment where Sabah officially adopted Islam as the official religion." Wong said he had tabled a motion twice in the Parliament seeking to restore Sabah's position from one of 13 to one third partner in recognising Sabah and Sarawak as equals with Malaya in the constitution. However, these motions were rejected by Pandikar Amin as Speaker."Now I understand why Pandikar rejected my motions. As a Speaker, he should accept any reasonable motion without favouring any political party. It is obvious now that Pandikar is not a qualified Speaker who should be impartial and neutral." He reiterated that DAP is always championing Sabah's rights as one-third of Malaysia's founding equal partners. That is why he said only the DAP rejected the 1976 Federal Constitutional Amendment in Parliament (on status of Sabah and Sarawak). DAP is always defending Sabah and Sarawak rights. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He said if Pandikar was really interested in politics, he should have resigned as Speaker. "Otherwise, he is unfit to be the Parliament Speaker."