Opposition should reform first by forming shadow Cabinet

Dewan Rakyat Speaker tells Opposition a shadow Cabinet would avoid messy sessions where different MPs waste time by repeatedly asking the same questions.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition should form a shadow Cabinet to save time and do its part in instituting parliamentary reform, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said today.

He said the current method employed by the Opposition pact had led to a messy session where different MPs asked the same questions over and over again, consuming too much time and taking away opportunities for others to put forward their queries.

“Why do you have to insist on reforms for other people? Reform yourself first. That’s part of democracy,” he said at a press conference at Parliament here today.

Pandikar noted that in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the prime minister was only allowed 30 minutes to speak on an issue.

But in Malaysia, some lawmakers could talk for six hours, he said, citing former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as an example.

“If you really want to save time, why don’t you form a shadow Cabinet? This way, you can have a specific shadow minister posing questions on related matters.

“You can pose questions on finance to the shadow finance minister, questions on education to the shadow education minister. Why can’t you do that?”

Pandikar asked reporters present to pose the question to Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

At the same press conference, he announced four parliamentary reforms, including the establishment of a special chamber to discuss important matters to avoid wasting time at Parliament sittings, a dedicated question time for answers from ministers and a reduction of the 14-day notice period to 10 days for asking additional questions.

He said these would be tabled during the current sitting. These reforms were proposed in line with international practice, he said.

However, Pandikar said the reforms would only succeed if MPs were willing to change their ways by being more organised and focused on issues that mattered instead of sensational ones.