Ringing the changes in the new Parliament

When Parliament starts its session on July 16, it must reflect the new spirit and enthusiasm of the Pakatan Harapan government. The political landscape has changed drastically after the traumatic and dramatic 14th general election, and this wind of change must also sweep through the halls of the Dewan Rakyat.

The previous Parliament had been cowed and moulded according to the dictates of the government of that day. Instead of being an arena for healthy debates and vigorous examination of government policies, it became the compliant mouthpiece of the executive branch.

Under the regime of ousted prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, the Dewan Rakyat sat through its boring sessions with just one mission – to defend the government mindlessly, blindly and irrationally. The opposition was a voice in the wilderness.

Now the dynamics have changed, and what the people want to see is their elected representatives debating policies and new laws with courage, brilliance and passion. Sparks must fly when the conduct of the government comes under intense scrutiny.

Parliament is where laws are made and every proposed legislation must pass through the furnace of heated debate conducted with decorum, intelligence and composure. It must never be the place for the foul-mouthed, ill-tempered and the twisted of mind.

More importantly, the Dewan Rakyat is where the truth must be told. It is the only place where the government can be pulled up and hauled over the coals for any wrongdoing. It is the one platform for the elected representatives to drill ministers and even the prime minister on any matter of public interest.

Under Najib, the Parliament was seen as a wing of the ruling party where no questions would be entertained about the conduct of the government on domestic and foreign affairs.

The ministers and their deputies were there to ensure such queries got a dismissive reply. Even the speaker would pitch in and shoot down any attempt to pry open questionable undertakings of the administration.

In the old Parliament, the opposition members were routinely ignored, bashed and frequently shown the exit. Their female representatives had to bear the brunt of coarse language bordering on the vulgar. There was nothing edifying or inspirational in the speeches of the members of the government.

A change of guard

Now there has been a change of guard: the old party is sitting on the opposition bench and the newly-minted Pakatan Harapan finds itself thrust into the seat of power. How would the new government conduct itself in the hallowed hall of the Dewan Rakyat?

It would be tempting to teach the BN MPs a lesson or give them a taste of their own medicine: throw them out on the slightest pretext, suspend them on the flimsiest of excuse, refuse to give them way during a debate, or reject any of their motion seeking to discuss an issue of grave concern.

The new Parliament must adopt a fresh approach in a new Malaysia. The mandate given to Harapan is not only to save the country, but also to strengthen the great institution of parliamentary democracy. The legislative branch must show its distinctive character and not be blemished by being a poodle of the government.

It is high time Parliament reasserted its place as a separate branch of the administration to check on the excesses of the executive. Harapan MPs must lead the way by monitoring the government closely: every project – mega or mini – every piece of legislation, every funding must be debated thoroughly. Transparency must be the order of the day.

Do not spare PM

Harapan has come across as bold, fearless, honest. Now its MPs must display the same sterling qualities when they rise to speak on matters crucial to the nation. They must not even spare Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad their scathing criticism of government policies.

Better still, a day must be set aside for a special question-and-answer session where it is compulsory for Mahathir to answer in person every question on any controversial subject.

Mahathir must take flak from both sides. This would be a far cry from the BN Parliament where Najib went “missing” most of the time, earning him the notorious sobriquet of “the world’s laziest prime minister”.

In Parliament, the speaker is the boss. But during Najib’s time, the speaker cracked his whip mostly on the opposition for spurious reasons. He was seen as a Najib loyalist who went to great lengths to shield his boss from the fires of scandals that would eventually consume his administration in the fateful electoral battle.

The new speaker must rise above the fray of partisan politics. He must move with caution and prudence, giving both sides fair and just treatment. He must use the whip promptly on anyone who crosses the line of decency or who deliberately obstructs the legislative business.

For sure, BN, still licking from its wounds, would seize every opportunity to lambast the government on any perceived wrongdoing. The speaker must let the opposition bloc vent its frustration and anger but must deliver sharp reprimands and stinging rebukes if its members cause a ruckus.

And if they become abusive and thuggish, then the speaker has no choice but to flash the red card.

Mr Speaker, sir, just make sure you do not become a slave, wittingly or unwittingly, of the political master.

So, let the debate begin. Let the sparks fly. Show the new Malaysia that the 14th Parliament is a refreshing change that will see honourable members speak with flair, class, wit, propriety.

If the old ways are not shed, Parliament will rapidly become a political theatre of the absurd.

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PHLIP RODRIGUES is a retired journalist. -Mkini