BY LOOI SUE-CHERN
Published: 18 November 2015 10:07 PM
Colleagues are unconvinced by Teh Yee Cheu's argument for a term limit for the chief minister's office. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 18, 2015.
A DAP lawmaker has criticised his party colleague’s proposal for a term limit for the chief minister of Penang.
Wong Hon Wai (DAP-Air Itam) said the Commonwealth countries practicing the term limit which Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) had listed as examples were "not very good".
"Tanjung Bungah (Teh) gave examples of Commonwealth nations that limited their prime ministers terms of service to two. But I say his example of Trinidad and Tobago is not a good one.
"We don't have to visit the country to know of its political situation. Googling is enough. The country declared a state of emergency due to its internal crisis," he said in his speech to debate the state budget at the state legislative assembly tonight.
On Monday, Teh had again voiced the proposal, calling for a study on the matter. He has been pushing for it in the last several state legislative assembly sittings now.
Wong said although he appreciated Teh’s research on the subject, Teh should also understand that his suggestion had weaknesses.
"The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act cited by Teh is a product of the political crisis in the UK. There was a hung parliament in 2011 and no party won enough seats to form the government.
"It took them five days to form the government, so following a political negotiation, a law was passed to set May 7 this year as the date for the next election. It was part of the coalition government agreement at the time. This law will be reviewed in 2020," he said.
Thailand was another weak example, said Wong, because the country did not follow the Westminster system.
He said it was also widely known that the Thailand Constitution had been rewritten many times.
"And now Thailand is ruled by a military government," he said.
He added, however, that arguments against Teh’s proposal should not stop efforts to reform and improve the system.
Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubuk) said a term limit had its pros and cons.
"The basic principle is to strengthen check and balance because absolute power corrupts.
"So we need to look at how to reform the system. We should not decide now. We need to study the matter carefully," he said.
R.S.N. Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) said the House needed to look at why it wished to limit the chief minister's term of service.
He said it would be right to set a term limit when dealing with a leader with questionable integrity.
"If we look at Penang, there is no issue with the integrity of Pakatan Harapan leaders. I don't agree with the proposal.
"It would rob a leader of the chance and freedom to serve the people, especially if he is a good leader and young enough to serve longer," he said. – November 18, 2015.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/citynews/georgetown/article/proposal-to-set-term-limit-for-chief-minister-fails-to-gain-ground
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