MPs: The Speaker should set the tone

Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Bahrin Abas said that it was up to the Speaker to ensure parliamentarians stick to the subject matter at hand during debates.

PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Rakyar deputy speaker was speaking out of turn when he accused the MPs of turning the sitting into shambles.

The MPs turned the table on him by saying it is no one’s fault but the Speaker’s. They are all in agreement that the power to control the sitting is vested in him.

“The power to set the course of debates in the Dewan Rakyat lies in the hands of the Speaker, said Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Bahrin Abas.

The PKR MP was responding to deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who had criticised MPs from both sides of the political divide for not adhering to proper Parliamentary decorum.

Wan Junaidi lashed out at the MPs for resorting to name calling and shouting in the House, turning the place into a political arena.

He also criticised the answers given by some of the ministers and wondered why some of them had to read out “the whole policy of the government” in their replies.

Kamarul said that in any meeting, it was the chairman that sets the ground rules on discussion and debates.

“So the Speaker can always reprimand MPs that go out of line in the Parliament and ensure the debates stick to the subject matter,” he said.

He also said that no MP would want to hear the same issue being repeated many times and would like to participate in constructive debates.

“All this ramblings also cause many of the MPs to leave the Dewan Rakyat,” said Kamarul.

As an advise to his fellow MPs, Kamarul said it was best that parliamentarians do some research on the issue debated before they comment on the matter.

“That will avoid parliamentarians from wasting time in the Parliament,” he said.

Money for researchers

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong said that in order to increase the quality of debates in the Parliament, lawmakers should be given allocation to hire researchers to assist them in scrutinisng issues and Bills.

He also said that countries like Indonesia and Singapore provided funds to its parliamentarians for such purposes.

“Once the research is done, surely the MPs will bring only the end product to the House which are fact and figures. That will increase the quality of debates,” said Wee.

He also said that MPs are a reflection of the voters and as the society matures, elected representatives would practise more restraint in the House.

Veteran MP Lim Kit Siang said all this shouting and name calling in the Parliament was not present in the Parliament even up to the 90s.

“It’s a very recent thing and it should stop as it goes against convention and Standing Orders,” he said.

Timely reminder

On a related matter, Higher Education deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah lauded Junaidi’s statement and called it a timely reminder for MPs to follow proper decorum.

He also said that even Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had given similar reminders to MPs in the past.

“I remember at a time when we are able to complete 10 to 12 questions in the Parliament ( in about an hour. Now, we can only answer about eight questions because too much time is wasted on insults and shouting,” said Saifuddin who is also Temerloh MP.

Although it was alright to have friendly jokes sometimes, Saifuddin said it was important for MPs not to get derailed from the issue at hand and learn to present ideas on behalf of their voters instead of the party.

“We are all responsible to lift the quality of debates in the House,” he said.

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong, on the other hand, said that he was unsure on what Junaidi was implying in his statement.

“He’s entitled to his view but I do agree that MPs need to be short and precise during the question and answer session,” he said.