No deal between India, Malaysia on C'wealth post: Chatterjee

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 8 (PTI) Joining issues with the British delegation here, Somnath Chatterjee, Speaker of India's Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), today asserted that no "deal" was made to support Malaysia's candidature to a senior post in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association election for which is to be held tomorrow.

"I totally repudiate these statements. I don't think any such arrangement for quid
quo pro was made three years ago in Fiji when India's candidate West Bengal Speaker
Hashim Abdul Halim contested and won handsomely," Chatterjee told PTI.

Referring to the remarks by British MP Hugh Bayley, who is the leader of the UK
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), that "deals were allegedly stuck three
years ago between India and Malaysia" when Halim was elected as Chairperson of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Chatterjee said it was Bayley's "own view".

Indian-origin business magnate Lord Swraj Paul is tied in a contest with Malaysia's
Unity and Culture Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal for the post of the Chairman.

Lord Paul, whose name was proposed by Britain and Canada, felt a clarification was
required on the atmosphere with the developing and developed countries forming
opposing groups.

"This is not the spirit of the CPA," he said.

Paul said the person who is elected to the post should be the "best person for the
job who has the understanding, ability, experience to manage and deliver and who
also had the time available to carry out this task."

Chatterjee, who is heading the Indian parliamentarians delegation to the 54th
Commonwealth parliamentarians meeting underway here, said "I was there when Halim
was elected. Everybody appeals to others for votes."

Chatterjee said the West Bengal Speaker had got 74 per cent votes. "This margin
can't suggest deals with one particular country," he said.

Halim will be elected as Treasurer for the new term after his tenure as chairman
ends. "His election is a recognition of acceptance here. There are so many
delegates, India and Malaysia cannot control everything," the Speaker said.

Chatterjee said that a vote for a candidate was usually on the basis of region. "We
vote on the basis of region. This is a body which discusses common issues affecting
all of them," he said.

However, he added that everyone was free to vote for their choice of candidate.
"There is no whip here."

Referring to yesterday's statement by Bayley, Chatterjee, said "it shows some little
agony is felt somewhere."

Noting that the comments were "not in good taste", he said "let us look ahead and
not be upset" and added "for some people hangover still continues."

Halim, the outgoing Chairman of the Executive Committee, felt that in any election
there would be groups.

"This is a parliamentary body. We are not non-political people. Anybody will agree
any election will have understandings," he said.

He said Bayley's allegations "were not true". "We all campaign and we all target to
win," Halim, who is the world's longest serving Speaker, said.

Malaysia's Unity and Culture Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal termed Bayley's statements
as "nonsense".

"As representative of Commonwealth, we vote a person based on his ability which can
benefit the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. There is no such thing as deal,"
he said.

The minister felt that every country had a right to vote for whosoever they wished
for. "There is no question of a block deal," Apdal said, adding that when the UK had
held the post for many years there had been no remarks about a block deal.

"Why only now when India held it for three years," he asked.

Apdal said Malaysia was doing its part in campaigning, lobbying like in any other
election.

"Why should it be construed as a deal. As Chairman of the Malaysian parliamentary
delegation, I say it is not true," Apdal said commenting on Bayley's remarks.

He said all member countries should play their role in uniting the Commonwealth.