Backbenchers dominate Parliament Special Select Committees

 

Backbenchers have taken up the lion's share of Parliament Special Select Committees’ (PSSCs) seats - a move that appears to reflect the makeup of the august house.

Each PSSC has nine members, of which six, or two-thirds, are from the government bench. The government has a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional has three members each in every PSSC.

In total, the government has 60 MPs in PSSCs, while PN has 30.

Lawmakers informed Malaysiakini that each PSSC will decide for themselves who will chair their respective committees.

There is expectation that PN will be put in charge of some PSSCs as well.

Under the previous Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration, a memorandum of understanding between the government and opposition saw Pakatan Harapan head four out of nine PSSCs.

The current government does not have any agreement with the opposition, with Putrajaya claiming the other side has not reached out to strike any deals - including on equal allocation.

Thus far, of the committees under Parliament, only the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is led by the opposition.

PSSCs are charged with keeping the executive accountable.

Last month Parliament approved new guidelines which give PSSCs stronger oversight powers.

This includes giving PSSCs authority to summon civil servants to appear before them and give evidence - which the latter is obligated to comply with.

The guidelines also give protection to witnesses from being punished by their superiors for giving truthful and accurate evidence to the committees.

Further, a minister cannot stop a PSSC from investigating something under its purview.

The members of the 10 PSSCs are as follows:

Finance and Economy

• Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar)

• Jimmy Puah (Harapan-Tebrau)

• Lee Chean Chung (Harapan-Petaling Jaya)

• Wilfred Madius Tangau (Harapan-Tuaran)

• Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh)

• Chong Zemin (Harapan-Kampar)

• Mohd Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya)

• Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok)

• Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang)

Health

• Dzulkefly Ahmad (Harapan-Kuala Selangor)

• Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah)

• Young Syefura Othman (Harapan-Bentong)

• Oscar Ling (Harapan-Sibu)

• Onn Abu Bakar (Harapan-Batu Pahat)

• P. Prabakaran (Harapan-Batu)

• Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat)

• Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus)

• Zulkafperi Hanafi (PN-Tanjong Karang)

Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living and Agriculture

• Cha Kee Chin (Harapan-Rasah)

• Edwin Banta (GPS-Selangau)

• Jeffrey Kitingan (GRS-Keningau)

• Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara)

• Tan Kar Hing (Harapan-Gopeng)

• Hassan Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang)

• Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran)

• Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu)

• Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar)

Infrastructure, Transport and Communication

• Abdul Yusof Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis)

• Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam)

• Matbali Musah (GRS-Sipitang)

• V Ganabatirau (Harapan-Klang)

• Tan Hong Pin (Harapan-Bakri)

• Zahir Hassan (Harapan-Wangsa Maju)

• Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor)

• Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas)

Nation Building, Education and Human Resource Development

• Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol)

• Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan)

• Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar)

• M Kulasegaran (Harapan-Ipoh Barat)

• Chong Chieng Jen (Harapan-Stampin)

• Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Harapan-Balik Pulau)

• Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota)

• Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai)

• Ismail Abd Mutallib (PN-Maran)

Women, Children and Family Development

• Yeo Bee Yin (Harapan-Puchong)

• Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Harapan-Bukit Bendera)

• Suhaimi Nasir (BN-Libaran)

• Mohamad Shafizan (GPS-Batang Lupar)

• Rodziah Ismail (Harapan-Ampang)

• Siti Zailah (PN-Rantau Panjang)

• Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat)

• Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar)

Environment, Science and Plantations

• Vivian Wong (Harapan-Sandakan)

• Chow Yu Hui (Harapan-Raub)

• Ngeh Koo Ham (Harapan-Beruas)

• Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong)

• Larry Sng (PBM-Julau)

• S Kesavan (Harapan-Sungai Siput)

• Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian)

• Ahmad Amzad Mohamed (PN-Kuala Terengganu)

• Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai)

Security

• Jonathan Yasin (GRS-Rantau)

• Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan)

• Anyi Ngau (GPS-Baram)

• Lim Lip Eng (Harapan-Kepong)

• Pang Hok Liong (Harapan-Labis)

• Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Harapan-Ledang)

• Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu)

• Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah)

• Khiir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh)

International Affairs and International Trade

• Wong Chen (Harapan-Subang)

• Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan)

• Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo)

• Kelvin Yii (Harapan-Bandar Kuching)

• Howard Lee (Harapan-Ipoh Timur)

• Aminolhuda Hassan (Harapan-Sri Gading)

• Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu)

• Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang)

• Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi)

Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reforms

• Khoo Poay Tiong (Harapan-Kota Melaka)

• Richard Riot (GPS-Serian)

• William Leong (Harapan-Selayang)

• RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong)

• Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud)

• Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam)

• Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau)

• Zahari Kechik (PN-Jeli)

• Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut)

- Mkini