Comments on: Kota Siputeh: Testing the courts http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/ Making Sense of Politics & Pop Culture Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jery http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/#comment-12781 Jery Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:17:05 +0000 #comment-12781 Where is Vanuatu? The following story sounds familiar and perhaps we can learn some lessons here. Vanuatu's prime minister lost his seat in parliament on Friday due to a simple paperwork error, officials said, throwing the tiny Pacific nation's politics into turmoil. Vanuatu PM 'loses seat' through paperwork blunder (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcZaacuYxI_OqT9dvMwxBV7vlyOw) Vanuatu's prime minister lost his seat in parliament on Friday due to a simple paperwork error, officials said, throwing the tiny Pacific nation's politics into turmoil. Prime Minister Edward Natapei forfeited his seat after missing three consecutive sittings without notifying the speaker, a blunder one analyst called "flabbergasting". "It was a standing order," an official at the speaker's office told AFP. "If you miss three consecutive meetings, your seat will be declared vacant." Natapei was rushing back from a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago, while his cabinet went into emergency talks. According to Derek Brien of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy think-tank, Vanuatu will be ruled by a caretaker government until parliament elects a new prime minister next week. To retain his seat, Natapei needed only to hand in a signed explanation for his absence, reports said. "It's truly unbelievable something as basic as that could have been overlooked," Brien said. "It's flabbergasting. I truly am shocked this has happened." Brien said an MP had lost his seat for the same reason in the 1980s, despite a legal appeal. He predicted furious horse-trading over the weekend as politicians bid for the premiership and cabinet positions. "It's a massive oversight by the prime minister's people," he said. "All they had to do was give notice he's away on official business." -- AFP Where is Vanuatu? The following story sounds familiar and perhaps we can learn some lessons here.

Vanuatu’s prime minister lost his seat in parliament on Friday due to a simple paperwork error, officials said, throwing the tiny Pacific nation’s politics into turmoil.

Vanuatu PM ‘loses seat’ through paperwork blunder (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcZaacuYxI_OqT9dvMwxBV7vlyOw)

Vanuatu’s prime minister lost his seat in parliament on Friday due to a simple paperwork error, officials said, throwing the tiny Pacific nation’s politics into turmoil.

Prime Minister Edward Natapei forfeited his seat after missing three consecutive sittings without notifying the speaker, a blunder one analyst called “flabbergasting”.

“It was a standing order,” an official at the speaker’s office told AFP. “If you miss three consecutive meetings, your seat will be declared vacant.”

Natapei was rushing back from a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago, while his cabinet went into emergency talks.

According to Derek Brien of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy think-tank, Vanuatu will be ruled by a caretaker government until parliament elects a new prime minister next week.

To retain his seat, Natapei needed only to hand in a signed explanation for his absence, reports said.

“It’s truly unbelievable something as basic as that could have been overlooked,” Brien said. “It’s flabbergasting. I truly am shocked this has happened.”

Brien said an MP had lost his seat for the same reason in the 1980s, despite a legal appeal. He predicted furious horse-trading over the weekend as politicians bid for the premiership and cabinet positions.

“It’s a massive oversight by the prime minister’s people,” he said. “All they had to do was give notice he’s away on official business.” — AFP

]]> By: M.K. http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/#comment-12687 M.K. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:46:32 +0000 #comment-12687 For justice to prevail in Malaysian courts, perhaps one of our local TV stations could start airing the old b&w series, "Crown Court" or similar series where the judges or jury were always very unbiased and fair. For justice to prevail in Malaysian courts, perhaps one of our local TV stations could start airing the old b&w series, “Crown Court” or similar series where the judges or jury were always very unbiased and fair.

]]> By: sam http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/#comment-12676 sam Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:12:14 +0000 #comment-12676 There have been too many "judicial gobblegygook decisions". The higher the court the more gobblegygook the judgments. Their brains work from their feet. I wonder why the EC is fighting tooth and nail against the HC decision when it's not its business to do so. There have been too many “judicial gobblegygook decisions”. The higher the court the more gobblegygook the judgments. Their brains work from their feet. I wonder why the EC is fighting tooth and nail against the HC decision when it’s not its business to do so.

]]> By: Eskay http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/#comment-12653 Eskay Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:40:33 +0000 #comment-12653 I suppose those conflicting and confusing judgments and reasoning are mostly due to the various judges being trained and graduated from so many different universities. Or is it that judiciary decisions are based on the individual whims and fancies of the judges? I suppose those conflicting and confusing judgments and reasoning are mostly due to the various judges being trained and graduated from so many different universities.

Or is it that judiciary decisions are based on the individual whims and fancies of the judges?

]]> By: Kate Green Zombie Shooter http://www.thenutgraph.com/kota-siputeh-testing-the-courts/#comment-12652 Kate Green Zombie Shooter Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:31:52 +0000 #comment-12652 Since nobody commented on this very excellent story, I'm commenting so that this article gets 'bumped' into attention again. Thanks for outlining the legal situation in such a clear way for us laypersons. Since nobody commented on this very excellent story, I’m commenting so that this article gets ‘bumped’ into attention again.

Thanks for outlining the legal situation in such a clear way for us laypersons.

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