by Rashid Karim
Sorry if i am over-simplifying matters, but this is to my mind, what the whip system is about. The whip is a person in a particular party appointed to ensure backbencher MP’s vote inline with the views of the party leaders. The MP’s of a party basically cannot simply vote according to what he feels best serves his constituency, but rather what is best for the party as a whole. This system is practiced by most parties in most democracies, although strictness of application varies. It does seem to undermines, to an extent, the principles of democracy, but it is found to be necessary to ensure the smooth running of Parliamentary business.
If party members can vote in any way they choose, legislative progress might be delayed, the party’s image of unity will be undermined, and the whole party would seize to operate effectively. BN is one of the parties which practice this, and understandably so. However, considering the number of seats they controlled, one may argue this effectively renders parliament useless.
In countries like the US and the UK, where the number of seats controlled by the government is not much more than the opposition, a few MP’s voting independently may result in a bill to fail. Whips can and should be used there. If it was not, nothing would get done. But for a country like Malaysia, applying the whip system too strictly defeats the whole purpose of a democracy. Recently, the leader of the backbenchers club resigned because he was apprehended by party leaders for supporting a motion by the opposition when he was supposed to vote against any opposition motion, regardless of merit.
A minister was questioned here in London some time last year about the implications of the whip being used in this way, and said, I quote “Yes, the Parliament is useless. The only reason we have it is because people will get upset if we don’t”. He also said, I quote “Who cares who the MP’s are, people vote for BN, not the person”. In a weird, politically incorrect way, he made sense. The question is should this be case?
We consider ourselves a democratic country, and this is reflected through our parliament. It is the basis on which our constitution operates. Doesn’t it worry anyone when our leaders declare our parliament useless? Doesn’t it bother anyone that when you vote, you are basically just giving power to the few Executive Council members?
Should this whip system still be practiced here in Malaysia, given the political situation, and if so should there be a limit to the power of a party to practice it? How do we limit it?
Discuss in not more than 1500 words :)
11 comments:
I personally think the whip system is crap, especially in Malaysia, and i am appalled to hear the Malaysians governments stand on this. To declare Parliament is useless is not only politically incorrect, not only constitutionally wrong, but is morally degrading!
BN cannot just sit there and say ‘oh.. that’s how the system works. There nothing much we can do about it’. That’s crap. They are the system. They know its undermining democracy. I think it is cowardly for them to still practice this, especially when they have a 92% majority. It’s not like they will lose a motion anyway. Just let whoever say what they want… I do not respect any party/institution/person who takes advantage of the system that way, and Malaysia’s public should not either.
The parliament should introduce legislation governing who the whip is to be used by the government. Maybe set a maximum majority and banning use for anything above that.
Oh.. what I am talking about? The parliament is the government......
Rosy Cheeks
don't think anyone should be able to set a standard as to a maximum number of times the whip can be invoked; it's plain folly in a government which makes the rules up as they go.
-basil
i dont mean set a maximum number of times the whip can invoked. What i meant to propose is to set a maximum percentage of MP's from a particular party to qualify usage of the whip.
For example, any govenment with more than a 70% majority in parliament should not be able to use the whip.
What you guys think?
Rosy Cheeks
but then they wouldn't need to use the whip in the first place.
the reason the whip was invoked this particular time was because there was an uproar staged by a certain unified demographic among the MPs, namely women.
-basil
hi everybody
just signed up and wanted to say hello while I read through the posts
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