Amanah rejects opposition role in Dewan agenda, PKR MP backs review

 Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim says the proposal should be referred to a parliamentary select committee for consideration.

(From left) Faiz Fadzil and Hassan Karim have differing views on Saifuddin Abdullah’s proposal to give the opposition leader a role in determining the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda.

PETALING JAYA:

A proposal to give the opposition leader a role in determining the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda has drawn mixed reaction from government bloc leaders, with Amanah rejecting it while a PKR MP wants further consideration.

Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil said there is no need to implement the proposal at this juncture, while Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim welcomed the move and called for it to be referred to a parliamentary select committee.

Faiz said although similar practices exist in several developed countries, this approach is unsuitable for Malaysia because the opposition has yet to demonstrate sufficient maturity in carrying out checks and balances.

“Although countries such as the UK and Canada practise this, the opposition there is genuinely mature in carrying out its role as an effective check and balance,” he told FMT.

Faiz cited the decision by some opposition MPs to walk out of the Dewan Rakyat during the debate on the royal commission of inquiry into Tabung Haji, leaving only government representatives and several opposition MPs taking part.

He also questioned the opposition’s decision to first appoint Kemaman MP Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, a PAS vice-president and PN chairman, as opposition leader before returning the post to Larut MP Hamzah Zainudin, despite PAS being the largest opposition bloc.

He said the opposition also failed to table an alternative budget, as is commonly done in several developed countries, although Pakatan Harapan did so when it was in opposition.

On Friday, Wawasan secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah proposed that the opposition leader be given a role in determining the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda as part of efforts to strengthen consultation in the democratic system.

The Indera Mahkota MP said the approach is among reforms that should be considered in the system, institutions, leadership and government.

Hassan said the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders would need to be amended if the opposition leader were given a role in determining Parliament’s agenda.

He said the agenda is currently determined largely by the prime minister as leader of the House, with some procedural matters handled by the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

He also said the change could strengthen the checks and balances process and enhance government accountability.

In additiion, it would bolster Parliament’s independence under the Parliamentary Service Act and strengthen the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. - FMT