DAP cries foul after opposition left out of hybrid Parliament committee

 

The decision of the speakers of the lower and upper houses to exclude the opposition from the new hybrid Parliament special committee has drawn flak from DAP.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said this was a violation of parliamentary conventions and an abuse of power.

“Opposition MPs are as much part of the legislative branch of the Federal Constitution as government MPs.

“If only the government MPs can decide on the procedural rules of how hybrid Parliament meetings are conducted, this 'rubber stamp' Parliament could mean the end of Parliament as we know it,” he said in a statement today. 

Lim added that under Standing Order 78, any amendments to the Standing Orders must go through the bipartisan Parliament Standing Order Committee.

The Bagan MP pointed out that save for the chairperson of the Standing Order Committee - the Dewan Rakyat speaker - none of the members are part of the hybrid Parliament special committee.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng

In a statement yesterday, Dewan Negara president Rais Yatim said the committee will comprise of himself, the Dewan Rakyat speaker, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dewan Negara deputy president, both deputy speakers of the Dewan Rakyat and Parliament's chief administrator.

Putrajaya is mulling conducting a hybrid Parliament where MPs can follow proceedings and vote, amidst mounting pressure to reconvene the Dewan Rakyat.

All legislatures were suspended since Jan 11 due to the proclamation of emergency, which is set to expire on Aug 1. - Mkini