Summoned officers should be compelled to appear before PSC - Azalina

 

PARLIAMENT | Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) said the memorandum of understanding between the government and opposition should be used as an opportunity to further empower Parliament, especially when it comes to summoning individuals to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).

She said the Parliament’s Standing Orders are also unclear on whether one is merely “invited” or has been “subpoenaed” to appear before the PSCs when they receive a letter from the committee.

“There is a large lacuna in the Standing Orders regarding this matter, on whether letters issued by the committees are merely invitations or subpoenas.

“Many officers do not feel confident about their attendance being mandatory on any platforms.

“Maybe they will attend as a show of respect for the invitation,” Azalina said during her debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.

On the contrary, she pointed to the judiciary, where an individual could be charged with contempt of court if they were to ignore a subpoena by the court.

“But in Parliament, as the third biggest body in the Constitution (as the legislative body), it is toothless. The MPs complain to the speaker, the speaker gives his explanation, causing another legal lacuna,” she said.

Set proper parameters

Azalina also said there is a need to set proper parameters on what the summoned individual can reveal to Parliament, especially when it involves information under the Official Secrets Act.

Even if these proposed reforms cannot be amended into the law, she said it is possible to take a leaf from other countries’ examples such as coming up with government guidelines for official witnesses before parliamentary committees.

Azalina had brought up this matter in relation to a clarification made by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun last week about MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki not attending a PSC meeting after being invited.

At the time, Azhar had said Azam was merely “invited” to attend the PSC meeting and as such, his “refusal” to appear before Parliament does not arise.

He noted that Azam had written a letter to the PSC to raise legal issues and the chair of the committee had subsequently cleared the date of the meeting.

“So, the narrative that Azam had refused to appear does not arise. There is no meeting,” he said.

Azam had been invited to appear before the PSC in relation to the conflict of interest due to his shareholdings.

On a separate matter, Azalina had also suggested for the Women, Children and Family Development Ministry to be split up, as there are many issues related to women and children specifically.

There should be two separate ministries related to women’s issues and children’s issues, whereas family development should be placed under the Unity Ministry, she said. - Mkini