Anwar: 5-day sitting not enough for checks and balances

 

The five-day Dewan Rakyat sitting called by Putrajaya is insufficient for checks and balances, said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The Port Dickson MP said what made matters worse was that Putrajaya could only commit to five days despite all the appeals by the public, MPs and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"Parliament is used to hold the government to account and ensure good governance. This is to prevent abuse of power through checks and balances.

"What they are trying to do now, in my opinion, is to fool (the public) by having a short sitting, rushing the debate of the emergency laws and suggesting that there will not be open debates," he said in a video address on his Facebook page today. 

Anwar urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin not to abuse the Dewan Rakyat speaker for expediency because Parliament was necessary to address issues regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and the welfare of the people.

"Don't bend the rules and put aside the principles of parliamentary democracy. Parliament ought to be used to defend the Federal Constitution and express the aspirations of the people.

"Parliament will decide whether an administration is legitimate or not," he added.

Parliament has been suspended since Jan 11 following a proclamation of emergency.

Although the law allowed for Parliament to reconvene, Putrajaya chose not to until yesterday, after two decrees by the king on June 16 and 29.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday that the sitting will see the government explaining the National Recovery Plan to the MPs and amend the rules necessary for future parliamentary sittings which involved both in-person and online attendance.

The statement added that the proclamation of emergency and all emergency ordinances will be "laid before" both houses of Parliament. It is uncertain if this means the ordinances - which have a shelf life of six months after the emergency - will be debated and voted on. - Mkini