Speaker insists MPs can still check and balance, PAC chief disagrees

 

Parliament will continue to play a check-and-balance role although the country is now under emergency rule, said Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

In a statement, Azhar said the executive only intended to stop the Parliament and state assemblies from sitting.

Therefore, said Azhar, other functions of Parliament - its various caucuses, all parliamentary groups and select committees - can continue to operate and conduct activities unless otherwise barred by impending emergency ordinances.

He also noted that the executive intends to form an independent committee comprising government and opposition MPs, among other members.

This committee will advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the emergency period's duration, slated to end no later than Aug 1.

"Through the independent committee and select committees, Parliament will continue its function in the process of check and balance as the legislative body," he said.

According to Article 150 (5), Parliament can continue to legislate on matters of emergency during an emergency period.

However, the executive has made it clear that they will enact ordinances to prevent Parliament from sitting.

Meanwhile, Public Accounts Committee chief Wong Kah Woh found Azhar's comments to be disingenuous since all the committees cannot table their reports in Parliament.

"The efforts of the committees in calling witnesses and examining evidence will be in vain if there is no final report to be tabled.

"The MPs will have no chance to raise, in the Parliament chamber, on the issues highlighted in the report," he said in a statement.

Wong explained that the Standing Orders mandated that all committee meetings and hearings could only be divulged through Parliament.

"We won't be able to discharge our duly efficiently and diligently without a Parliament being in session.

"What types of check and balance are we looking at now? A sad state indeed!" he said. - Mkini