Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Bar Council disagrees with Agong gauging political allegiance of MPs, despite clear legal basis for Agong's actions

by Ganesh Sahathevan


Bar Council President Fareed Gafoor has been very busy this year.First this:

As we approach the beginning of the new Legal Year in M’sia, I took the opportunity to catch up with
President Dato’ Abdul Fareed. • Cooperation on legal reform and professional issues has long been a strength of the
🇲🇾
🇦🇺
relationship.



And now,  as reported by THE STAR, but note that the Agong is interviewing his MPs personally, not relying on Statutory Declarations.



Malaysian Bar: Parliament should decide who commands majority support

NATION


Tuesday, 25 Feb 20204:32 PM MYT








PETALING JAYA: Parliament should determine who commands the confidence of the majority and is to be appointed as Prime Minister, says the Malaysian Bar.

In echoing the advice of Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas who said that the way forward is to have this matter determined by the Dewan Rakyat when it reconvenes on March 10, the Malaysia Bar said a vote of confidence or otherwise could be taken and debated against the interim Prime Minister.


Bar president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor cautioned against the reliance on Statutory Declarations (SDs) to determine the support of MPs, saying that the authenticity of such SDs can be disputed.

“Any attempt to form a new government through political horse-trading must be avoided especially if it negates the aspirations of the electorate, as this would lead to unnecessary controversy and raise questions of legitimacy.


“Political stability is essential in these challenging economic times and we call on all parties to behave in a calm and mature manner, having due regard to our Constitutional framework.

"The interest of the nation and its people should prevail over all other personal or partisan interests, ” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 25).

On Monday (Feb 24), Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Prime Minister, with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepting his resignation.

However, the King has consented for Dr Mahathir to continue running the country as interim Prime Minister until a new premier has been appointed and a new Cabinet formed.

Dr Mahathir is the only one from the Pakatan Harapan administration who is left after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong cancelled the appointments of all Cabinet members.

Aside from ministers, the duties of other members, including the deputy prime minister, deputy ministers and political secretaries ceased, effective Feb 24.






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