Speaker wants every backbencher MP in select committees

 

Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul wants every single backbencher MP, be they from the ruling party or the opposition, to be in a parliamentary select committee (PSC).

“I want every backbencher to be in the select committees, whether you are in the ruling party or the opposition.

“And this is where the MPs should excel. They can’t complain and say they do not have enough time to debate in the Dewan.

“No, you got to work, you got to perform in the select committee you are in, so everybody has a role in the select committee,” Johari said when speaking to reporters in Parliament today.

He also said he intends to give every PSC its own staff and allocation, similar to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

On forming new PSCs or reviving old ones, he said discussions and decisions must be made on Feb 13.

Previously formed PSCs became automatically defunct when Parliament was dissolved, except for those enshrined in the law.

On Feb 13, Johari said they will decide how many PSCs they will form, each committee’s focus, as well as who the members will be.

Parliament is scheduled to convene for its first sitting of the year starting Feb 13. - Mkini