ADUN SPEAKS | Silent Johor state assembly stifles aid for the rakyat
ADUN SPEAKS | The Johor state assembly seems to have come to standstill since March after being hijacked through the backdoor by Umno and Bersatu.
Except for a one-day sitting on May 14, presided over by Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar who delivered his speech, the assembly ended with no debates or motions being allowed because of the conditional movement control order (MCO).
ADUN SPEAKS | The Johor state assembly seems to have come to standstill since March after being hijacked through the backdoor by Umno and Bersatu.
Except for a one-day sitting on May 14, presided over by Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar who delivered his speech, the assembly ended with no debates or motions being allowed because of the conditional movement control order (MCO).
And perhaps to prevent any surprise move from occurring.
Not having any state assembly sitting is turning the house into a rubber stamp and making it irrelevant. The state government, under PN and its assembly members, must discuss and debate possible action to help the poor and needy as well as to implement stimulus packages to uplift the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
A state assembly sitting provides an avenue for elected members to put forward development plans for their constituencies and provide possible remedies by the state government. Without this platform for elected representatives to propose plans, no help can be delivered to the rakyat in Johor.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought enormous economic difficulties and stress to people. People fear losing jobs and business and also resulted in people with family members caught unawares on either side of the causeway during the conditional MCO period.
One major problem faced by the people is that the land tax was increased just before the Covid-19 pandemic and this tax needs revision and the implementation postponed.
Among critical issues that need to be discussed and addressed are the number of people infected with Covid-19 and the prevention of its recurrence as well as plans for economic recovery post-pandemic. These and other issues need urgent action and quick response from the state government.
Meanwhile, in Labis, a small agricultural and rural constituency with few industries, some rubber and sawmill factories are said to contemplate closing, leading to further loss of jobs. We need the intervention of the state government for remedial and growth plans.
As such, there are enough agendas to be debated, discussed and resolved in the state assembly. New rescue packages and programmes can be included in the upcoming budget. The new normal may require new procedures and state enactments. Public opinion and complaints must be debated and if possible, included in the new budget. It is important that the interests of taxpayers and the rakyat are heard.
State assembly sittings must be held at least once every six months. A one-day sitting merely to comply with the legislation makes a mockery of the democratic process.
We need serious debates, listening to public complaints, elected representatives’ opinions must be ventilated and there must be an enactment of laws and approval of financial bills.
Above all, the state government’s performance must be monitored because they are accountable to the state assembly.
Let us hope that the menteri besar will seek an audience with the sultan to consider holding the state assembly in the near further.
S RAMAKRISHNAN is Bekok assemblyperson.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
