KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran today proposed extending the current term for members of the Dewan Negara from the existing three years to five so that they are guaranteed a full pension..
“If the three-year term is not increased, you YBs won’t get a full pension,” he said at the launch of the Dewan Negara Reforms Agenda Roundtable here.
Vigneswaran said that a full pension is important as some sacrifice stable jobs and businesses to become lawmakers.
He added that it would also motivate the senators to keep speaking out on issues independently even after leaving the Dewan Negara.
According to Vigneswaran, senators in Canada can serve until age 75.
“But here, it is based on appointments and not elections,” he added.
Under the Federal Constitution, senators have robust tenures once they are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the prime minister’s recommendation.
They are also not automatically removed by the dissolution of Parliament and may remain for their entire three-year term, as provided by Article 45 (3) of the Federal Constitution.
A senator is eligible to serve a maximum of two terms of three years each, although their term renewals are at the full discretion of the government.
