Siva at the swearing-in ceremony for MPs at Parliament. It has been hectic for our MP, dividing his time between the parliamentary sessions and the people of Subang. Until the next session then…
By BARADAN KUPPUSAMY
Malay Mail, 30 May 2008
THE first sitting of the 12th Parliament, which convened on April 29, ended yesterday with MPs having mixed feelings about the whole proceedings, the quality of debate, and the performance and fairness of the chair.
While some MPs like Salahuddin Ayub (Kubang Kerian) said the debate was exciting and “very interesting”, others like S. Sivarasa (Subang) were unhappy with the way the government bulldozed its business, giving scant time for the opposition to table private members bills.
However, MPs on both sides readily acknowledged that some MPs like PAS leader Dr Zulkifli Ahmad (Kuala Selangor), PKR vice-president Azmin Ali (Shah Alam) and Puad Zarkasi (BN-Batu Pahat) were star performers having done their homework, constantly keeping ministers on their toes.
For Sivarasa, the issue was the whole concept of Parliament itself as practised in Malaysia.
“We need a major review of Parliament and how it conducts its business,” he said.
“For instance, in other countries much of Parliament work is in committees where the opposition and government sit and debate and decide. Our Parliament has very few committees.
“Government business dominates Parliament entirely. There is no room for the opposition to participate in making laws.”
Support staff is another sore point. He said that in Indonesia, every MP gets six staff, including office help and researchers.
Even in Cambodia their MPs get two researchers each.
“In Malaysia, 222 MPs have to share 12 researchers,” he said.
Dr M. Jeyakumar (Sungei Siput) agrees.
“Quality is lacking in the whole business of Parliament,” he said. “We need to review and revamp many current practices to make Parliament reflect the will of the people and not that of the ruling party.”
Veteran MPs like Datuk Chor Chee Heung (Alor Star) also complained newbies were a nuisance, constantly jumping up to disrupt proceedings to catch media attention and get into the news.
It’s at its worst during the first 3o-minutes of question time which is telecast live.
“That’s when the proceedings go haywire,” said Chor, the former deputy Home Minister.
“The newcomers are trying hard to serve their constituents and tell them they have elected the right person,” said Salahuddin. “In time they will learn the ropes.”
Like Salahuddin, other MPs also agreed that Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia started off as a disciplinarian, constantly falling back on the rule book, but eased off as he settled into the job.
“He is a fast learner and reasonably fair but he should not reject every opposition motion,” said Salahuddin.
Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju) agreed that Pandikar might feel obligated to reject Opposition motions because he is from the ruling party.
“The rule requires the chair to be fair,” he said. “That means the Opposition must be given a fair chance to table motions, private members bills and debate freely without undue restrictions.”
Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) also saw red with Pandikar.
“I jumped up every time to say my piece but he never selected me,” he said. “I even raised the matter in Parliament and in private with the Speaker. It is probably because I sit on the left side of the House… his eyes are always going to the right side.”
Nearly everyone agreed that Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad was a star performer although heading a stressful frontline ministry that had to manage rising food and fuel prices.
“I have to be on top of issues that involve my Ministry. I take my job seriously,” Shahrir told Malay Mail.
He agreed some of the opposition MPs were better prepared but ministers were able to handle them.
“The secret is all in the homework.”
