Anwar presses Dewan Rakyat speaker to ensure debates during July 26 sitting

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wants Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to ensure adequate time for debates in the upcoming Parliament sitting.

This was after the Parliament schedule showed that the five-day Dewan Rakyat sitting, beginning July 26, will be fully occupied by ministerial briefings.

Anwar said he had written to Azhar asking that he ensure ample space is given to MPs to debate, particularly on the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This is important in order to discuss pressing issues at a time when the country is facing a challenging and complicated situation.

"It should be emphasised that the effectiveness of the government's programmes in managing the Covid-19 pandemic can only be known and improved when MPs are allowed to voice their proposals and views during the debates," he said in a statement.

The PKR president added that Parliament should not be stifled.

"The role of Parliament should be upheld, not stifled. MPs are not paid to rubber-stamp without thorough debates." 

Opposition MPs had expressed concern that the government will turn the upcoming Parliament sitting into nothing more than a briefing session.

Their fears came through after the Parliament schedule was released showing five days of briefing.

The government was initially reluctant to convene the Parliament sitting before the end of the emergency in August but caved in after pressure from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. - Mkini