THE Dewan Negara, or Senate, has long been perceived as a “rubber stamp” of the Dewan Rakyat or Lower House in Malaysia. In a Westminster parliamentary democracy, the Senate is meant to provide checks and balances on the Lower House. Indeed, healthy democracies thrive because of checks and balances. That the Dewan Negara in Malaysia […]
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Confusing party with government
By Shanon ShahTan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh WHEN Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh was Dewan Negara president, the upper house of parliament started regaining just a little bit of its clout as a check and balance to executive power. In 2005, for example, senators resisted just being a rubber stamp for the controversial amendments to […]
Checking power in Malaysia
By Shanon ShahTan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh TAN Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh has had an interesting career in Malaysian politics. An Umno member, he was Member of Parliament (MP), first for the Arau seat in the 1980s, and then for the Kangar seat in 1999. The 1944-born medical graduate was appointed Deputy Speaker of the […]
Privacy Act to be introduced
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 April 2009: A personal privacy protection act will be promulgated to provide necessary checks against crimes and the intrusion of privacy, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar told the Dewan Negara. “The matter has been discussed in the cabinet. I believe when the new cabinet is formed, it will delve into […]
RM11.7 million to repatriate illegals last year
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 April 2009: The government spent RM11.7 million last year to repatriate 60,800 illegal immigrants, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung. He said RM9.8 million was spent in 2007 for repatriation. “The government has to spend RM30 a day on each detainee which covers administrative and medical costs,” Chor said when […]
Wong won’t quit Senate deputy president post
By Ng Boon HooiPETALING JAYA, 25 Nov 2008: Newly-appointed MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng said he will not quit his post as Senate deputy president. “The issue of resignation does not arise at all,” Wong told The Nut Graph when asked whether he would tender his resignation after his appointment as secretary-general in the new MCA line-up […]
