BARISAN Nasional’s 54 senators in the Dewan Negara will not resign, as there is no legal requirement for them to do so under a different government, The Star reported.

Quoting a senator who declined to be named, it said all BN senators would complete their term, in response to comments by retired federal court judge Gopal Sri Ram that all senators should resign to allow the new Pakatan Harapan government to carry out the people’s mandate.

“There is no such law. As such, there is no need for us to go. We were appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, unlike in the Dewan Rakyat where representatives are voted in by the people,” the senator said.

He said the Dewan Negara’s role was to review legislation passed by the Dewan Rakyat, and the PH government did not need to worry that BN senators would try to oppose laws that benefited the people.

“We will not be a threat to the government, nor do we want to sabotage the new administration. Our role is purely to see a check and balance in the government.”

BN’s senators are from the coalition’s various component parties, with Umno having the most at 30. The Dewan Negara currently has 66 senators.

Gopal had also said that the Dewan Negara president should resign so that the PH government could appoint its own candidate. – May 18, 2018.