Muhyiddin fears to face opposition, says flabbergasted Teresa on Parliament sitting

CORONAVIRUS | Opposition MPs are flabbergasted after receiving an email from the secretary of Dewan Rakyat, giving notice that the long-awaited first parliament sitting of the year would be held only for a day, said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

The sitting, which was originally planned for March 9 but was subsequently postponed to May 18, would be held only for a day due to movement control order being in effect to help combat the spread of Covid-19, which has claimed 86 lives to date.

"This is wholly unacceptable, and it goes against the long-held concept of parliamentary democracy.

"The Perikatan Nasional government has no legitimate basis to limit this session of Parliament to only one day despite the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. We have seen lately that many democracies, such as the UK and the US, have convened normal parliamentary sessions.

"Better still, South Korea even held a general election (on Wednesday) under severe pandemic restrictions," said Kok in a statement last night.

The email sent by Dewan Rakyat secretary Riduan Rahmat said that there will be "no oral question sessions, written questions, motions and special chambers” during the one-day sitting.

"The reason cited in the letter from our Parliament is ludicrous and holds no water," said Kok.

She said the PN government was shamelessly and blatantly displaying open contempt for the role and function of Parliament.

"The government is attempting to stymie and undermine the legitimate role of Parliament and the concept of separation of powers in preventing robust debates on the stimulus package.

"The government is flagrantly attempting to bulldoze through the huge economic stimulus package of RM 250 billion (equivalent to Malaysia's one year's national budget) in a "back door" fashion without seeking proper approval from the Parliament," she added.

Kok said it was also obvious that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is in grave fear of facing Pakatan Harapan MPs in a proper session of parliament as this may present an opportunity for the opposition to move a motion of no-confidence against him as PM.

Her party colleague, Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang said he was shocked to receive the email from Ridhuan.

"I was following the video meeting of the UK parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Social Care on “Management of the Coronavirus Outbreak” where the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock appeared for a 150-minute Q&A session when that I received an email (...) that the normally month-long meeting of Parliament starting on May 18 had been cut down to one day."

"According to the parliamentary notice, there would only be the speech by the Yang di Pertuan Agong opening the new Parliamentary session, but debate on the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the Royal Address had been postponed to the July meeting of Parliament (July 13 – August 27).

"This is most unacceptable as it makes a farce of Parliament," said Lim.

The decision on the one-day sitting of Parliament on May 18 must be reconsidered by the PM as Parliament should not be shunted off, emasculated or marginalised but must play a major role in galvanising national unity and solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lim added that Parliament should provide scrutiny to ensure the most effective strategy to overcome the Covid-19 crisis and the best exit plan for the economic recovery of the country. - Mkini