我谴责马华妇女组主席王赛芝日前撰文指责雪州议长杨巧双犯下“五大罪状”。王赛芝的言论充分显示她本人对西敏斯特议会民主的肤浅认知。
在西敏斯特议会民主的制度下，议长是议会民主的代表。因此，议长在主持会议和管理议会的事物必须拥有独立的管理权，同时必须公正处理朝野双方在议会的表现和要求。
在英国，下议员议长甚至必须在被选为议长之后退出本身所属政党，以彰显议长能够公正执行任务的态度。在其他共和联邦国家，虽然他们的议长并不一定会退出本身的政党，但是他们在处理党务方面会保持低调，例如议长会放弃所有党职、不会出席政党的活动等等。
在这一次的州议会，巫统双溪侨华区州议员卡马路查基向议长提呈动议要求州政府研究落实伊斯兰刑事法的可能性。在收到有关州议员所提呈的动议之后，议长必须根据议会常规第26（1）和（2）条文来判断有关动议是否符合这两项条文所例举的条件。如果该动议符合条件，议长是没有权利拒绝有关议员的动议，因为这种做法将会被视为违反议会常规，种下不好的典范。
为了让媒体、公众人士尤其是王赛芝能够清楚了解雪州议会常规第26（1）和（2）条文，我谨此张贴有关条文内容如下：
“26. (1) Unless Standing Order otherwise provide, notice shall be given of any motion which it is proposed to move with the exception of the following:(a) a motion by way of amendment to a question already proposed form the Chair;(b) a motion in Committee of the whole Assembly;(c) a motion for the adjournment of the assembly or of any debate;(d) a motion to proceed to any particular business out of the regular order;(e) a motion of the Menteri Besar under the provisions of paragraph(1)of Standing Order 6;(f) a motion that the proceedings on any specified business be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 11;(ff) a motion under paragraph(2) of Standing Order 11 adjourning the Assembly to a later day;(g) a motion for the appointment of a Select Committee under paragraph(4) of Standing Order 18;(h) a motion for the suspension of a member;(i) a motion to disallow a member’s vote under the provisions of paragraph (5) of Standing Order 47;(j) a motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee under Standing Order 54;(k) a motion for the recommittal of a Bill reported from a Committee of the whole Assembly;(l) a motion for the withdrawal of a Bill under Standing Order 62;(m) a motion to suspend any Standing Order moved under Standing Order 78 when the consent of Mr Speaker has been expressed;(n) a motion for the withdrawal of strangers;(o) a motion for the closure of a debate under Standing Order 40;(p) a motion relating to a matter of privilege;(q) a motion that a petition be read, printed or referred to a Select Committee;(r) a motion that the report of a Select Committee be referred to a Committee of the whole Assembly.
(2) A motion-(a) seeking a grant, charge or expenditure of public money, or(b) seeking the release of a debt due to the Government, or(c) seeking the remission of-duties payable by any person, or(d) seeking compensation for loss out of the public revenues, or(e) for the revocation, alteration or repeal of any rate, tax or duty,
shall not be proceeded with unless the recommendation of the Government thereto is signified by the Menteri Besar.”
很明显地，巫统双溪侨华区州议员的动议并没有触犯以上议会常规。该动议在本质上也没有触犯联邦和州宪法，因为该动议仅仅要求州政府研究其可行性，而不是要求政府直接落实伊斯兰刑事法。
令人遗憾的是，在国阵50多年的霸权统治下，议长和议会沦为行政单位的橡皮胶。大家都以国阵议长的决定作为标准，从来不思长进到底议长能够发挥多大的权限、或以为议长仅仅是橡皮胶职位、或认为议长和副议长不应该领取高薪。这些迷死和误解的导因是因为人民和政客长期忽略推动议会民主运作的重要性。尤以政客仅仅利用议会达致政党的短期利益。
与其批评杨巧双，王赛芝应该谴责的是巫统内阁部长加米尔在国会的言论。为何王赛芝不要求马华的同僚在议会提呈动议谴责加米尔？行文至此，可见王赛芝仅仅是为了个人或政党利益撰文谴责杨巧双，反而对加米尔的言论视而不见，听而不闻。我相信这绝对不是年轻马来西亚女性政治人物所应该扮演的决色。
刘永山
lauwengsan@gmail.com
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