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Let's address serious matters

Aliran fails to understand what the fuss is all about. Karpal was wrong in quoting the wrong law but he was right in insisting that when taking an oath the right hand must be raised. This was something that has to be observed while taking the oath. It is understood that the Speaker himself in a circular letter dated 8 April had informed and reminded parliamentarians to observe this requirement at the oath-taking ceremony.

If Karpal's protest had been upheld, then subsequently he could rightly have been accused of making a "false statement" and of having "misdirected the House." But this did not take place as the Speaker had over-ruled him. In other words, the Speaker had dismissed Karpal's protest as of no significance and of no consequence.

A point was put forward and it was discarded. In what way had the House been "misdirected"?

If any action is to be taken, then it has to be directed against the parliamentarians who ignored the Speaker"s circular letter and did not honour the Speaker's instruction requiring them to raise their right hand when taking their oath of office. It can be argued that they had not shown any respect to the Speaker. Does their conduct warrant any action?

To make a mountain out of a molehill doesn't reflect well on the august body of Parliament, which should be directing itself to serious affairs of the country. Time should be spent on fruitful pursuits instead of dissipating its energies on trivial matters.

P Ramakrishnan
President
10 June 2004

This statement was sent to the local media including The Star and the Sun. We have stopped sending statements to the New Straits Times as they have never been carried.