Kota Kinabalu: The expected contest for the position of Dewan Rakyat Speaker is a normal process, said Tan Sri Pandikar Amin who holds office until June 24."I don't feel anything about it. This is what democracy is all about. Even in the House of Commons, there are times when the candidate nominated by the Government is opposed by the Opposition. That's normal," he said when contacted on Thursday.
While Barisan Nasional (BN) has endorsed Pandikar to be Speaker for a second term, the Opposition pact has named Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, a former Federal Court judge, as a candidate.
On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan insisted that the Dewan Rakyat Speaker must be appointed from among those who are independent, neutral from political parties and qualified to serve.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) will take their oath of office on June 24, which would also see the election of the new Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) Speaker and the two deputies through the secret ballot.
That is when the 13th Malaysian Parliament will begin its first meeting of the First Session, and it will last for 16 days.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will officially open the 13th Parliament the following day (June 25) at 10am.
Pandikar also dismissed PKR's claim that his warning to Opposition MPs that they would be disqualified if they choose to boycott the swearing-in ceremony on June 24 and do not take their oaths within six months, was a veiled threat which was unlawful and a reflection of the Speaker's apparent bias against the Opposition.
These people, he said, were ignorant of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Standing Orders.
"The question of veiled threat does not arise. How can it be unlawful?
What I said was in response to their intended boycott of the swearing-in.
I was asked about the would-be consequences of such action.
"Which means they cannot take part in the parliamentary proceedings.
And under Article 59 of the Federal Constitution, MPs must take their oath within six months of the start of proceedings, failing which their seats shall become vacant," Pandikar pointed out.
The Standing Order also states that the swearing-in cannot take place beyond the stipulated time, which is the first day of the sitting, unless there are valid reasons such as an emergency or illness.
According to Pandikar, the King's speech will be debated upon on June 26.
"MPs who have not taken their oath by then cannot attend the sitting to participate in the debate."
He, however, made it clear that he would allow any member on the first day to participate in the voting process for the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker before taking the oath "as provided for in Article 59 of the Federal Constitution."
Barisan Nasional secured 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats while DAP won 38 seats, PKR 30 and PAS 21 in the 13th General Election.
