Expert: Senators could hamstring or delay government Bills

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan now has the majority in the Dewan Rakyat but the Dewan Negara is still dominated by senators from Barisan Nasional and PAS who could hamstring or delay government Bills.

Constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan (pic) said under the Constitution, senators cannot be removed unless they are disqualified or resign freely.

He said Pakatan must somehow negotiate with Barisan senators to agree with the passing of crucial Bills.

Dewan Negara has 70 senators, of which 44 are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister with 26 others elected by their respective state legislative assemblies for the post.

There are currently 31 Barisan senators, two from PAS, 11 from Pakatan along with 26 vacancies in the Upper House.

The threeyear term for these senators vary between 2015 and 2021. Several senators vacated their seats to allow them to contest in GE14.

They include MCA vicepresident Datuk Lee Chee Leong and MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon. Other seats are vacant after the terms of the senators ended.

It will take some time for the Pakatan ruling government to nominate names to fill the 26 vacancies.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said senators who were appointed by the King under the previous Barisan government should resign.

“If they want to continue to have credibility and moral authority, they should resign,” the eightterm MP said.

PAS secretarygeneral Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan also said these Barisan senators should willingly quit.

“Since their appointment was by the previous government, it is only morally appropriate if they resign,” he said.

The Kota Baru MP noted the situation was different for senators selected by the respective state legislative assemblies.

“Terengganu is now with PAS but the state can only appoint senators if there are vacancies,” he said.

The situation is also the same for Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Sabah which are now under Pakatan or Pakatanfriendly rule but whose senators were appointed by the previous state legislative assemblies.

However, an official in the Dewan Negara pointed out the Senate is known as the obedient second chamber with senators giving preference to the wishes of the Lower House.

“Unlike the Dewan Rakyat, debates in the Senate are less heated and focus more on procedural and ministerial issues,” said the official who declined to be named.

He pointed out that the Senate cannot block a Bill passed by the Dewan Rakyat but may send it back to the Lower House for amendments.

Senate president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran Sanasee declined to comment on the issue but said that the Dewan Negara would be jointly opened with the Lower House on July 16.