Publish MPs’ Dewan attendance records, says TI-M

 Transparency International also calls for MPs to give written reasons for their absence during key votes, after the failure of the 10-year PM term limit bill.

On Monday, the Dewan Rakyat failed to pass a constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has called for Parliament to publish the attendance records of MPs after the failure to pass a bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure, which required a two-thirds majority.

TI-M president Raymon Ram called for the daily release of these records, which he said should clearly state if an MP was absent with or without leave.

He said this would keep MPs accountable about their attendance, especially when it involves critical votes on constitutional amendments, supply bills and confidence motions.

Raymon also called for Parliament to require MPs to give written reasons for their absence during key votes, and for these to be disclosed to the public.

He said unjustified absenteeism must be followed by proportionate consequences, including referring MPs to the rights and privileges committee, financial penalties and party-level disciplinary action.

“When reform proposals of this magnitude fall short, attendance and participation by MPs become matters of constitutional seriousness, not political convenience.

“Regardless of political affiliation, absence without clear justification during critical votes erodes democratic accountability, undermines institutional reform, and weakens public confidence in Parliament as the nation’s highest law-making institution,” he said in a statement.

On Monday, the Dewan Rakyat failed to pass the constitutional amendment to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years. The bill fell two votes short of the 148 required to reach a two-thirds majority.

Fourty-four MPs abstained while 32 were absent, including eight government MPs.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said Libaran MP Suhaimi Nasir was in hospital while Tapah MP M Saravanan had to attend prayers.

The other absentees were Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Larry Sng (Julau), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Henry Sum Agong (Lawas), Riduan Rubin (Tenom) and former Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau).

Sng told FMT he was unable to return to Parliament in time to vote for the bill because he was stuck in traffic, while Syed Hussin said he chose not to attend as he disagreed with the proposed amendment. - FMT