Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has mooted a bi-partisan approach to policy-making, calling on the government to work closely and “thrash things out” with the opposition's shadow cabinet.
This is especially when it comes to matters requiring two-thirds majority support in Parliament.
“For example, when it comes to constitutional amendments on certain matters of public interest, all parties can work together, thrash it out and come to Parliament, everybody will support (the motion) and get things done...
“So matters like that, the government can sit down with the opposition and opposition leader to discuss and get things done. The business of the House must move forward,” Annuar, who is also Ketereh MP, told reporters at Parliament's lobby today.
Annuar said the days when the opposition and government could function as “two separate blocks” were over.
He said this was because elected representatives of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition did not make up adequate numbers in the House.
He was asked to comment on progress made by the shadow cabinet since the new government took over in May last year.
He said the shadow cabinet formed by BN last September was not very efficient due to a lack of recognition by the government, making it “difficult to move forward”.
His comments came as the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition is looking to garner two-thirds support for its motion to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. The motion is slated to be tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.
The move, part of Harapan’s election pledge, requires amending Article 119 of the Federal Constitution.
The Youth and Sports Ministry yesterday also tabled its motion to redefine ‘youth' as those aged 30 and below, through an amendment to the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 (Act 668).
On this, Annuar advised the ministry to allow the shadow cabinet to provide input rather than bulldozing the motion through.
“I think gone are the days when opposition and government were two separate blocks and anything that comes from the government, the opposition will fight, and anything that comes from the opposition, the government must reject,” he said.
Annuar also cited the unilateral appointment of new MACC chief Latheefa Koya by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, done without consultation with the cabinet nor the special Parliamentary Select Committee on Major Public Appointments.
He also brought up Monday’s motion tabled by the government, which was ultimately approved, to compel all lawmakers to declare their assets, as well as those of their immediate family members and trustees, to the MACC.
The motion was heavily objected to by the opposition who argued it was illegal as the government lacked the force of law to compel lawmakers to declare their assets.
They countered the matter should have been done by way of law, not through a parliamentary motion.
Currently, Harapan is just nine seats shy of the crucial two-thirds majority needed to amend the Federal Constitution.
Tomorrow’s motion on the voting age will be the government's second bid at amending the constitution. It failed in its first attempt last April to amend Article 1(2) to restore Sabah and Sarawak's position as equal regions to Peninsular Malaysia instead of being mere states in the Federation of Malaya.
On lowering the voting age, Annuar said the opposition would “most likely" support the idea, but they were still discussing their stance.
He mooted that automatic voter registration when citizens reach the minimum voting age be introduced.
Meanwhile, MCA president Wee Ka Siong also said that his party, part of the BN opposition coalition with Umno, did not have a problem working with the government on certain matters.
The Ayer Hitam lawmaker said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman approached him during the break in today’s Dewan Rakyat session on tomorrow’s motion to lower the voting age.
“For me and the MCA, there is no problem for the opposition to cooperate with the government on certain things, especially for the good of the country and to fulfil the aspirations of the youth.
“However, the amendment must be examined holistically, such as in relation to political education, a study of the existing legislation and so one,” Wee, who is MCA's sole MP, said in a posting on Instagram. - Mkini
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