Govt seems to value MPs' lives more than schoolchildren's - Muda

 

Failing to grasp the logic behind Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan’s statement on allowing Parliament to reconvene, Parti Muda information chief Zaidel Baharuddin asked if the government valued the lives of MPs more than that of schoolchildren.

He said this is because the government had allowed schools to reopen amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zaidel also noted that when quizzed on the risk faced by schoolchildren, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun said she believed that the relevant authorities, including the Education Ministry, would have adopted stricter SOP to prevent the spread of the virus in schools.

“This gives rise to the second question.

“Why is the government willing to risk the health of schoolchildren and is confident of its plan to manage millions of them but is unable to manage Parliament which involves a small number of MPs and their officers?” he asked in a statement this afternoon.

Furthermore, Zaidel said a large number of MPs have been vaccinated and therefore compared to schools, the risk of infection is far lower in Parliament.

 “Muda is not asking for the closure of all schools but it appears that the Perikatan Nasional government prioritises the health and wellbeing of MPs instead of schoolchildren.

“The suspension of Parliament gives the government unfettered powers to administer without check and balance based on an excuse which not only denies the democratic rights of the people but also fails to make sense,” he added.

In a statement earlier, Takiyuddin, who oversees Parliament and legal affairs, said the government has assured that Parliament would be called to convene when the time is right either before or after the Covid-19 emergency ends in August.

However, he said the government would first seek the advice of the relevant agencies, especially the Health Ministry and the National Security Council, on the matter.

 “The government is aware of its constitutional responsibilities to ensure that the democratic process will continue to persist in the country through Parliament sitting.

“...but the priority now is to curb the spread of Covid-19 and this includes protecting the health of all members of Parliament, as well as Parliament officials and everyone involved,” he added.

Takiyuddin had also claimed that there should not be doubts about the alleged abuse of power during the emergency as the government was functioning as usual.

He said this included the aspects of administrative monitoring by the relevant authorities, especially the (MACC), National Audit Department and PAC.

The minister's statement was rebutted by the PAC chairperson Wong Kah Woh, who said the committee has been instructed not to hold proceedings when Parliament is suspended. - Mkini