The Alliance For Change (AFC) has warned that the Constitution should not be “bent to accommodate a few when personal feelings are hurt,” responding to a warning issued earlier this week by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed.
In a statement titled “A Word of Wisdom to the Speaker of the National Assembly,” the AFC said it had taken note of the Speaker’s warning, which was issued on Monday, January 26, during a sitting of the National Assembly. At the time, Nadir cautioned Mohamed and members of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party that Mohamed could be referred to the National Assembly’s Privileges Committee over remarks the Speaker described as “vile.”
The alleged “vile” comments referenced by the Speaker were not made in the National Assembly. The Speaker, however, said that while Members of Parliament are entitled to criticise him, such criticism must be pursued through proper parliamentary procedures, such as a substantive motion in the House. He also pointed to the authority of the Privileges Committee to examine alleged breaches of parliamentary rules and misconduct by members.
The AFC, however, argued that the role and jurisdiction of the Privileges Committee are limited. While recognising that the committee exists to ensure order and decorum within the National Assembly, the party said its authority is “confined strictly to actions and conduct that occur inside the house.”
According to the AFC, any allegedly “vile” comments made against the Speaker outside of the National Assembly do not fall under parliamentary privilege. “In such circumstances, you are fully entitled to seek redress through the courts under the laws governing libel,” the party said.
The AFC also drew comparisons with previous Speakers of the National Assembly, stating that they were “thorough, resolute, and capable of withstanding intense political pressure and far more combative political environments without compromising the integrity of the office.”
The party further warned that the Speaker must remain above partisan politics and avoid any perception of alignment with either the government or the opposition. “When a Speaker abandons neutrality, the office itself is diminished,” the AFC said, adding that subsequent rulings may then be viewed as “biased, partisan, and one-sided,” and therefore subject to scrutiny and criticism.
Mohamed was formally elected Opposition Leader on Monday by non-government members of the National Assembly, ending months of delay following the general elections.
