Senator Nantana Nantavaropas has urged the House Speaker to establish a committee to investigate what she calls “abuse of power” in the Senate, after claiming that a ruling against her was politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent.
Sen Nantana submitted a formal petition to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha on Monday, calling for an inquiry into what she described as the Senate’s “governance failure” and “misuse of authority.”
She said the case reflects a broader crisis of integrity within the legislative branch.
The controversy stems from an ethics complaint accusing Sen Nantana of insulting and belittling a pork seller during a public discussion.
The Senate’s ethics committee investigated the matter and concluded on Oct 28 that her remarks violated ethical standards outlined in the constitution. Subsequently, 130 senators found her guilty of a serious ethical breach, forwarding the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.
Sen Nantana condemned the move, calling it a politically driven vendetta, saying it was payback for her efforts to expose alleged collusion among senators.
She had earlier called for a group of accused senators to be suspended from approving appointments to independent bodies. According to her, 15 members of the ethics committee have been named in the collusion scandal.
She argued that their participation in judging her case undermines the Senate’s credibility and adherence to the rule of law.
Sen Nantana urged the House Speaker to ensure transparency, accountability, and neutrality within the legislative system. “The Senate must not become a political tool,” she warned. “Abuse of power will only erode public trust in the parliamentary system.”
Senator Premsak Piayura voiced support for Ms Nantana’s call, claiming that during his visits to local communities, “99.99% of residents opposed the ruling”.
He questioned how the Senate can maintain its dignity if the majority ignore public sentiment. “If minority senators are silenced, can we still call this the Upper House?” he asked.