An opposition parliamentarian questioned why the planned renovation to the Parliament building, expected to cost about RM49 million, was not discussed with the House Committee.

Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) also claimed that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail, who is the committee president, did not call for any meeting about the matter.

"I agree with the renovation as it would upgrade the facilities and environment in the building," he said when met at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

"But I feel sad when this project which involves such a vast sum was never raised for discussion in the committee... not only for this, the committee never met for any discussion since I was appointed three years ago," added Tan who is a committee member.

The renovation will begin on Nov 1 and is expected to be completed in Feb 2004.

Tan said he had sent a letter and asked the speaker many times to have a meeting to discuss the matter.

"I had met with the speaker earlier. He had told me that this (the renovation) is a decision of the government so a meeting wouldn't change anything," he said.

However, the opposition MP said he told the speaker that many projects approved by the government in his constituency had been amended or retracted after he raised the problems with the authorities.

Make recommendations

"As cited in Article 79(1) of the standing order, the House Committee is set up to deliberate and consult any issue regarding the comfort and facilities in parliament, as well as the services enjoyed by MPs in the house.

"That's why we must bring this into discussion so that we can make recommendations," he said.

In a written reply to the DAP MP, Mohamed Zahir said a meeting was not called because he did not receive similar requests from the other committee members.

Meanwhile, Tan said if the committee fails to perform its function, he will call for the abolishment of the House Committee in the next Parliament session.

The other five committee members in the House Committee are MPs from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.