MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat disclosed that Senate Deputy President Datuk Wong Foon Meng will assume duties as Senate President from 6th July 2009 when the six-year term of incumbent Tan Sri Dr. Hamid Pawanteh expires.
The appointment of Wong as the MCA nominee for Senate President is a surprise for two reasons:
Firstly, it is against parliamentary convention and practice for a front-line party official to be appointed to positions like Speaker of Dewan Rakyat or President of Dewan Negara – which is why the present Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia resigned his post as divisional Umno Chairman on his appointment to chair the Dewan Rakyat. Is Wong going to resign as MCA Secretary-General?
Secondly, Wong will be appointed only to serve a mini-term of eight short months from July 6, 2009 as Senate President as he is a second-term Senator whose term expires on 12th April 2010 and there will not be a third reappointment.
In contrast, the present Senate President Dr. Hamid was appointed Senator on 7.7.2003 to serve two full terms totaling six years as Senate President.
Hasn’t MCA another nominee who could serve as Senate President for two full terms of six years, such as former MCA Ministers, Dr. Ting Chew Peh or even Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (although this will mean a by-election in Kulai) or former Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng?
Or is the MCA only allowed to “warm the seat” of the Senate President for a brief spell of eight months before the MCA nominee has to vacate it because of the expiry of his term as Senator?
Ong Tee Keat should be more serious about such appointments and should even consider nomination of qualified and eminent Malaysian Chinese who need not be MCA members to be appointed as Senate President.
Where does it say in the Constitution that the Senate President must be members of MCA or other Barisan Nasional component parties?
#1 by k1980 on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 - 5:35 pm
After Wong Foon Meng has warmed the seat for 8 months, BN will bring in Sami Vell to re-warm it for another 8 weeks and then Kayveas to warm it again for 8 days. 888 is a lucky number, you see.
#2 by chengho on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 - 6:38 pm
why u have color problem now?
#3 by eijam on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 - 7:41 pm
yup, why need another label of malaysian chinese? any malaysian who capable, can be appointed as the senate president. Please see woon fong as malaysian.
#4 by Tonberry on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 - 9:14 pm
chengho, MCA is a half-dead political party now, you agree? :twisted:
#5 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 - 10:04 pm
No worry
after Wong Foon Meng panaskan the seat
CS Lek will take over as Senate President
Succession mah
MCA boleh lah
#6 by ekin on Thursday, 21 May 2009 - 2:09 am
Mr Pathetic Laksamana Cheng Ho,
“why u have color problem now?” – Even if we all having colour problem, so? Its still ever better than you are BLINDED! LOL
Clown of the year! HA HA HA
#7 by Sony boy on Thursday, 21 May 2009 - 2:02 pm
Uncle Kit,
My fren studying law in uni told me this:
1. There’s no convention against appointing anyone from political party as Speaker. He said it means if Pakatan Rakyat becomes government, PR can also apppoint their man as Speaker. He also remembers last time Ramli Ngah from UMNO also was speaker before.
2. He said as long as Speaker can do his job as Speaker taking care of the order /conduct of the Dewan session well, should not be a problem. He also said this Wong Foon Meng is ok as he has done his Speaker duty well. ???
3. He said since Wong Foon Meng is working with Senate President Pawanteh to upgrade standards of the Senate, why not let them continue the work to make the Senate more respected. He also said this meets the aspirations of Pakatan too to upgrade standards of Senate.
I’m so confused now. Looks like Wong Foon Meng and Pawanteh are doing something good. Should I support good works?