Melaka's Speaker rules the roost with his impartiality

Melaka State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Othman Mohamad has charmed his way into the hearts of the state assemblymen from both sides of the political divide with his friendly demeanour.

Often when the assembly is in session, he is confronted by all kinds of provocations but he rises to the challenges without flinching from his cheerful disposition.

To him, the 28-seat state assembly is not an arena for the lawmakers to cross swords or dive into verbal onslaughts, but an august institution where they can raise issues and matters close to the people's hearts.

"I believe my ability to keep calm enables me to discharge my duties as a speaker in an impartial manner. When the assembly is sitting, everyone (assemblymen) can have their voices heard and convey the rakyat's needs," said the affable Othman, more popularly known as Tok Seman among the reporters, here.

NEUTRAL STANCE

The former Melaka Special Affairs Department director said being the elected representatives of the people, the assemblymen should behave professionally and use the state legislature to seek solutions to their constituents' problems, instead of treating it as a "battlefield".

"As the 'middleman', the speaker has to adopt a neutral stance and should never be partial to any particular political party.

"The assemblymen, on their part, should comply with the speaker's orders and also the assembly's standing orders so that our sittings can proceed smoothly," he told Bernama.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron's professionalism in addressing questions and issues brought up by the opposition has also helped to create a harmonious atmosphere during state assembly sittings, he added.

CHAOS IN THE HOUSE

Things were not always smooth sailing for this genial man, especially at the start of his stint as speaker in 2008, after the 12th general election, when the state assembly had five DAP assembly members, compared with only two in the previous legislature.

With the bigger DAP camp (it was the sole opposition party in the state assembly then) came more conflicts between the opposition and Barisan Nasional assemblymen but Othman always managed to bring the situation under control.

However, the only time his patience was tested was during a state assembly sitting in 2012 when the five DAP assemblymen caused a commotion during a verbal sparring match with the BN members over an issue.

"I kept on telling them (DAP assemblymen) to sit down but they defied my order... I had no choice but to take firm action against them. So, when a BN assemblyman proposed a motion for all the five DAP assemblymen to be suspended for six months for having defied the house, I allowed it to be tabled and it was supported by a majority of the members," Othman recalled.

In fact, he added, that was the first time the state assembly had resorted to taking such stern action against any member.

NEW CHALLENGES

Othman said due to the suspension, the five assemblymen concerned could not attend the state assembly's budget session that year, leaving only the BN assemblymen to oversee the proceedings.

"After that, the DAP members became more obedient and heeded the orders issued by the speaker," he said.

Incidentally, recent political developments in the state saw three DAP assemblymen, Goh Leong San (Duyong), Lim Jak Wong (Bachang) and Chin Choon Seong (Kesidang), withdrawing from the party and becoming independents. The DAP now has three seats in the 28-seat state assembly, while PAS has one and BN 21.

Othman said the Melaka state assembly was unique in the sense that most of its members behaved professionally and were receptive to each other's views even though their political ideologies differed.

Pointing out that he has now switched to a new approach of allotting each member, no matter which party he belonged to, only eight minutes to speak during debates, he said the strategy has worked because all the assemblymen were able to get the chance to speak.

"They are definitely more satisfied now," he said, adding that some opposition assemblymen had suggested that the assembly members be given more time to speak.

"But I said 'no' to them due to time constraints... we have 28 assemblymen and if they are all given more time to speak, then the state assembly meetings will have to be extended as well," he added. -- Bernama