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Speaker: Parliamentary reform is up to the gov't
Published:  Dec 13, 2015 12:45 PM
Updated: 4:50 AM

Under fire for failing to implement his promised parliamentary reform in the just-concluded session, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said it is now up to the government.

He said he had submitted his proposal, and the government must decide on whether to implement it, and to bring the matter for debate in the House.

“It’s up to the government or the minister in charge of Parliament to bring it to the cabinet.

“I have completed my job and the committee findings. Once the cabinet approves it, they have to bring it to Parliament to be debated,” he said in an interview with The Star.

He was referring specifically to his proposal for a second chamber, where emergency motions by the MPs will be debated.

Pandikar has several times been criticised for rejecting emergency motions on various matters, in the interest of time-keeping.

Earlier Opposition MPs also called on Pandikar to resign , after the reforms he wanted was not implemented by the end of the 2015 session last week.

The speaker retaliated by telling the DAP MPs who made the call to step down if the reforms indeed take place next year.

Other reforms he mooted include doing away with the post of minister in charge of parliamentary affairs and prime minister’s question time.

Asked of the minister post, Pandikar said there are just two countries in the Commonwealth that have this post – Malaysia and India.

He said that in the Indian practice, the minister is there as a representative of the government to coordinate between the Parliament and the two sides of the House.

“It is something we can have if we want or do without. If the minister were to step into the shoes of the Speaker, then of course, we cannot have that.

“There will not be any separation of power. But if the minister is only a representative of the cabinet to smoothen the administration of Parliament, or help the Speaker as a coordinator between the Government, Parliament and Opposition, then it is okay,” he said.

Related report

Parliament no ‘rubber stamp’, Pandikar says

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