Struck by the Mace

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The Dewan Deputi royal mace placed on the dispatch table beside sacred texts during prayers, the beginning of each day's sitting. The royal maces are the symbol of the Hindia Belandan Sovereign and therefore must be present within the chambers of both houses of parliament.

In the Hindia Belandan parliament, an MP or a member of the Dewan Bangsawan is said to have been ‘struck by the Mace’ when they are named by the Speaker for serious contempt of their respective house. In practice and despite the phrase, it involves no actual swinging of the Mace nor infliction of physical pain towards the person receiving the disciplinary action. The Serjeant-at-Arms (or, in the case of the Dewan Bangsawan, the Mace Bearer) simply holds the mace in the air and points the crown towards the unruly member, and that member is simply said to have been ‘struck by the Mace’ (the Hansard records). The member then must leave the chamber for the entire day and may only come back 5 sitting days after on the first occasion, 25 days after on the second occasion or they may be indefinitely barred from the Parliamentary Estates on the third occasion.

Those who have been ‘struck by the Mace’ for three times are usually disqualified from sitting in Parliament until the next General Elections. For MPs, this means they will lose their seat and by-elections are called for their vacancy. For both hereditary and life peers of the Dewan Bangsawan, they must formally seek the Governor-General’s pardon.

List of individuals who have been struck by the Mace

Dewan Deputi

Dewan Bangsawan

  • Raden Abu Bakar Kartosoekarjo, life peer (thrice in 1938; suspended from parliament and never sought pardon from the Governor-General)