Teresa Kok

國陣后坐議員俱樂部主席沙里爾，日前破天荒的支持國會反對黨領袖林吉祥要把某涉嫌濫權的國陣議員提交到國會特權委員會的動議，后來卻因為此舉不獲其他國陣后坐議員的支持，憤而辭職。

這是本屆國會第二次因着國陣議員支持國會反對黨領袖把國陣議員提交到特權委員會動議，而掀起的軒然大波。上一回是去年兩位巫統的活寶在議會里支持林吉祥把涉及AP風波的貿工部長拉菲達提交到特權委員會，而驚動下議院，逼使內閣針對此事進行討論，最后以國陣的黨鞭納吉以警告他們下不為例收場，而沒對他們采取任何懲罰行動。

沙里爾是以他的立場不獲國陣后坐議員的支持而辭職。他在國會走廊宣布辭職后，對新海峽時報記者發表了可圈可點的談話。他說：「當我被選為根據國會程序領導國會議員的主席時，我是以我所了解的（國會）程序來領導，而不是從政府的政策來發表言論，我着重國會的原則和尊嚴，國會和國會議員應該怎樣扮演我們角色。如果我們要國會受到人民的尊重，那么我們必須顯示給他們看我們堅守這些原則。這就是為何這么久
以來，我是從國會，這國家政治的重要機構這角度來發言，因為這是大選時人民所賦予的委托。」

「國會必須捍衛人民的委托。因此國會必須具有某些原則。這就是為何我提議國會應該在財政、人力資源和其他方面擁有自主權。如果我們不能執行我們的責任，那么我們如何批評其他人呢？我們應該在國會里顯示出這是尊嚴的開始。」

沙里爾也對媒體說，他辭去主席職務的原因有二：第一，他贊同林吉祥的動議，但是卻不被其他國陣議員的支持；第二，他支持反對黨提出的動議，所以他必須自律，那就是辭職。

我很難評論沙里爾是否應該辭職，我覺得感嘆的是，在國陣議員和部長當中，會在國會提倡國會的原則和角色的議員，少得如鳳毛麟角，沙里爾是其中的異數。歷屆的國陣后坐議員俱樂部主席，向來都以攻擊在野黨議員作為他們擔任主席的最大使命，他們也往往也以發表充滿種族和宗教主義的言論，和故意歪曲在野黨議員的言論稱著。

但是，自沙里爾擔任國陣后坐議員俱樂部主席以來，他鮮少在下議院發言，但是每次發言,總是言之有物和充滿批判的意味，令人耳目一新。他算是國陣議員，特別是巫統議員中的清流。

在過去數十年來，國陣的議員，特別是巫統的議員，向來都已習慣「跟着黨的路線走」。即使他們多么不同意政府的某些政策，他們也會只會發表有限度的批評，而不會大肆的反對，除非是得到國陣，特別是巫統某些高層的默許。

個人可看出沙里爾嘗試在后坐議員的角色方面帶動觀念上的改革，他去年甚至因着首相暑部長納茲里要在國會委任「國會局主任」而不惜與他公開對峙，可惜不甚成功。

沙里爾的呈辭，反映出他對國陣后坐議員的極度失望，國陣議員若挽留他不成，最終也是他們的損失。但愿沙里爾的辭職，能讓國陣的后坐議員和領導們認真反思國會的真正功能和角色，和為大馬國會的自主帶來突破。

（5－5－2006）

Thursday May 4, 2:43 PM
<strong>Malaysia warns Myanmar against move on opposition</strong>

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia warned Myanmar’s junta on Thursday that the credibility of its “roadmap to democracy” would be at risk if it banned the opposition party of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s military rulers have threatened to ban the National League for Democracy (NLD), accusing it of links to “expatriate groups, terrorists and destructive groups” that they blame for attacks on the former Burma.

“Any action they take, like closing down NLD, or not releasing Aung San Suu Kyi, these are all impediments and obstacles to creating visible signs of credibility in terms of the movement towards democracy,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters.

“Even though we do not want to interfere in their affairs, they are not helping us in creating the necessary confidence in the international community,” said Syed Hamid, who visited Myanmar in March as an envoy of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The NLD won elections in 1990 but was denied power by the junta, and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has spent about 10 of the past 15 years in some form of detention.

ASEAN, a 10-nation group known for its emphasis on consensus, has shown rare displeasure in recent years with foot-dragging on reforms by Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military in various guises for more than 40 years.

At a meeting in Bali last month, ASEAN foreign ministers made their views known to Myanmar about its lack of progress towards democracy.

Syed Hamid reiterated that ASEAN would like to see Myanmar making visible changes although it would not resort to pressure.

“We will keep on prompting them to listen to the views of ASEAN at least,” he added.

Myanmar has proposed a seven-step “roadmap to democracy” and the junta says step one, drafting a new constitution, is under way.

But its ASEAN neighbours think the process has been too slow and sent Syed Hamid to meet the country’s rulers in March. But the Malaysian minister said his fact-finding mission was incomplete because he had been unable to meet Suu Kyi.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said last week he expected to visit Myanmar next month for talks with its leaders and hoped to meet Suu Kyi. Manila takes over the chairmanship of ASEAN from Malaysia in July.