Anwar: Bring back parliamentary debate to check power abuse by gov't

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim today urged for parliamentary debate to be held in the Dewan Rakyat, saying that absence of the session during the last sitting has prevented MPs from questioning alleged abuse of power by the government.

Anwar, who is PKR president, claimed that people "who are unfit" to lead were given positions by the Perikatan Nasional government.

"If there is no discussion allowed, then all corruption, abuse, the appointment of those who are not fit (would go unquestioned)... Only several were fed (with positions) when at the same time, hundreds of thousand others had lost their jobs.

"All these are the signs that there is no check and balance, no discussion, no questions asked, and no spirit of syura (meeting) and negotiation," he said in an interview.

While Anwar did not mention any names, it is understood that he was referring to the recent appointments to government-linked companies and agencies by Muhyiddin Yassin administration, which saw several politicians who have ongoing court case related to corruption among those selected.

"This is why I said that we need to revive the spirit of independence that was drafted by our forefathers, the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

"If not, it would be just like what happened today, where those who are not fit are given positions.

"Even those who are involved in corruption cases, or have been fired from the party because the MACC has advised for this person to be expelled, were given positions," said Anwar.

It is understood that he was referring the appointment of former PKR Bera chief Zakaria Abdul Hamid (above) as the new National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairperson. 

Zakaria, who replaced actor and film producer Hans Isaac, was previously sacked from PKR for allegedly dangling projects from the Housing and Local Development Ministry and the Works Ministry to lobby for votes in the 2018 PKR election.  

Anwar added that the spirit of parliamentary democracy, however it is not perfect, must be respected.

The system has to be upheld as it is based on this framework that Malaysia was built, he stressed.

"In the modern context, Parliament sitting is the syura. Is it perfect? No. Is democracy perfect? Also no.

"Because in democracy, sometimes people would give their votes for some bribes. Not necessarily the person (who is voted) is the best for the job.

"Sometimes, the person who was chosen by the people instead chooses to amass personal wealth. We know about these problems, but with all the limitations, our country's system upholds parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy." - Mkini