Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament needed
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 21, 2011
Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament needed
by S Rutra@www.freemalaysia-today.com
Malaysia urgently needs a code of ethics for MPs to prevent crossovers and money politics, according to veteran lawyer and political observer Param Cumaraswamy.
“In light of what we have seen since the 2008 general election, this is absolutely important,” he said in an interview with FMT.He suggested the establishment of an institution to enforce the code.
“We need more than a parliamentary privilege committee because we need to check their conduct outside parliament as well,” he said. “Their conduct should be open to the rakyat’s scrutiny.”
Param was president of the Bar Council between 1986 and 1988 and is a prominent champion of good governance.He described as “despicable” any MP who defects from the party that sponsored his candidacy and then exposes its secrets.
He believes that most members of the public would agree with him. “People in general are very disturbed by what they have been seeing recently, when elected representatives not only crossed over but openly attacked his or her previous party and its leaders,” he said.
He said a code of ethics for MPs would go some way towards ensuring that only those with a high level of integrity would become elected representatives.
He also called on political parties to field only candidates of good calibre and to discipline corrupt MPs and never field them again for election.
“They are not fit to serve the rakyat and they should be prevented from ever being elected again.”
He said there should be an audit not only on the material wealth of MPs, but on their personal character as well. He warned both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat that voter awareness had improved tremendously in recent years.
“It is absolutely important for political parties to be more careful of the kind of candidates they select,” he said.
This is long overdue. But that alone is not good enough. Crossovers should be disallowed. That is only to prevent money politics. Elected officials must serve people.–Din Merican
dinobeano - November 21, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Long overdue, yes, but it would ever come about because both sides have been guilty of it and they are still depending on this unethical means to boost their power.
“They are not fit to serve rakyat…” unfortunately they, especially the BN’s, think they are elected to be served!
Tron - November 22, 2011 at 12:43 am
oops I mean NEVER come about…
Tron - November 22, 2011 at 12:45 am
agree, bro.
also, we need a special body to supervise them – those who kuat tidur in the dewan, those kaki ponteng and those who never took part in any debate or Q & A session.
then, we will give them their rating!
bujai - November 22, 2011 at 1:09 am
Code of Ethics?? We have all the codes (including one for our judges for example) and legislation needed to deter corruption but that has not saved the country’s judicial system which is now in tatters. What makes this guy think this is not going to go down the same road?
Mr Bean - November 22, 2011 at 10:16 am
No need for all those high sounding words such as “ethics”. Just declare you assets before you assume office and again before you leave office.
Anonymous - November 22, 2011 at 9:19 pm
So the Prime Minister is only 100 x richer than when he assumed office? So what you gonna do? What crime has he committed? What law has he broken?
Mr Bean - November 23, 2011 at 7:33 am
So long as he declares his income and not declare sources of his income, you cannot get him for tax evasion. Tax avoidance is legal. Is it per se evidence of corruption?
Mr Bean - November 23, 2011 at 7:36 am
Mr. Bean, put that information on the back of the ballot paper and let the people decide because in the end in a Parliamentary Democracy it is the people’s vote that matters. If they accept what they see on the back of the ballot paper so be it.
Anonymous - November 23, 2011 at 10:47 am
Dato,
That was not a typographical error. It is supposed to read “not not declare ….”
Mr Bean - November 23, 2011 at 11:31 am
We do not need any code of anything to force them to declare their assets. They do not declare them. They do not pay taxes on them. But instead flaunt them for all to see.
Over here the IRS (Inland Revenue Service) would go after them for tax evasion and they would be facing a jail sentence in addition to a fine. The IRS has police powers. Our Income Tax officials are a bunch of pen-pushers, working 9 to 5 with long coffee breaks and selling Amway products to their office colleagues to earn the extra they need to keep up with their neighbors.
Mr Bean - November 23, 2011 at 10:08 pm
audit on personal character? what measured outcome? use of psyches as well? personalities disorders? control freaks, ego maniacs? tell me pls how you will pull this one off?
Kathy - November 24, 2011 at 8:12 am