15/11/2015 10:29 AM
'Council of Elders does not violate democracy and constitution'
Veteran Umno politician Sanusi Junid says there are more undemocratic
events taking place under Prime Minister Najib Razak's watch
KUALA LUMPUR : The establishment of a council of elders, as proposed by
former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will not be running foul of the
constitution.
Former Kedah menter besar and veteran Umno politician Sanusi Junid, in
defending the idea, said more undemocratic events had taken place under the
watch of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has since rejected the proposal.
"It does not contravene democracy or the constitution. After all what
is so constitutional about 1MDB? What is so democratic about sacking the deputy
prime minister and a Minister for asking questions on 1MDB?
"If there was a council of elders, would they not advice against the
idea of putting loyalty above ability when both qualities are actually required
for a person to be minister?" he asked.
Sanusi said this in response to fourth Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's
idea of having a council of elders, which had been criticised as
unconstitutional and undemocratic.
He said the council, if set up, could eliminate other 'councils' that were
damaging the country.
"The council of elders is probably meant to replace 'the council of
liars', council of foreign conspirators, the council of shoppers, the council
of carpet dealers', the council of spin doctors' and the council of hypocrites'
who are damaging the country," he told Berita Daily.
He added that at the end of the day, it's merely just an idea that is
subject to agreement by all parties.
Mahathir had proposed a concept where the Prime Minister, who took over
from Najib, have a council of elders as advisers.
This council will consist of veteran leaders in giving a second opinion
should the premier planned to make a decision that will not benefit the
country.
The idea has received mixed reactions from various parties. Analyst Abdul
Aziz Bari said the idea does not have place in the federal constitution.
Former Selangor MB Muhammad Muhammad Taib however approved the idea, saying
that the elders can act as statesman giving pointers to their 'alma matters'.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang dismissed Mahathir's proposal, saying that what
was urgently needed was a restoration of the institutional checks and balances
which had been first destroyed by Mahathir during his long 22-year tenure.
Najib last Friday, through a statement slammed the idea saying that not
only was it unconstitutional but went against Malaysia's democratic nature.
Sanusi, the former rural and regional development minister, said personal
animosity towards Mahathir should not be the measuring stick to consider the
idea of elders acting as advisers.
"One should not dismiss the council of elders just because one hates
Mahathir.
"We should instead ask why such a council is thought of and who should
be members of the Council?
"Certainly it will not include Jho Low, Deepak Jaikishan, Arul Kanda
or any appointee of Tony Blair or any Arab representative of a non existing oil
and gas concession," he said.
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