INTERVIEW | New minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong wants the opposition to play a bigger role by being a check on the Pakatan Harapan government.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, the de facto law minister said it will be interesting to see how opposition lawmakers perform in the first Dewan Rakyat sitting on July 16.

"We want them to perform and be effective MPs, to be a check and balance to the government," he said.

However, Liew expressed concern about the previous administration’s weaknesses being translated into their performance as opposition lawmakers in the new parliamentary term.

"I don't want them to just stand there, and not make enough contribution to the government. (They have to check) the policies of the government of the day," said the Batu Sapi lawmaker.

In its election manifesto, Harapan had pledged to create a bigger role for the opposition – which included giving the opposition leader a ministerial rank, and appointing an opposition MP to head the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In Harapan-held Selangor, the state opposition leader already chairs the PAC, with Penang pledging to follow suit in the coming state assembly term.

But Liew, who chairs Parti Warisan Sabah – who are not in the Harapan coalition – has his reservations about this pledge. "PAC is quite powerful. We cross the bridge when we come to it,” he said.

However, Liew welcomed the establishment of select committees to monitor every ministry. As Harapan had promised, each committee will be given power to call up ministers and senior officials to testify before it.

"It is good if the opposition MPs can head the select committee, one or two of the select committees," he said.

Liew is also in favour of ministerial question times, stating that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his cabinet would have no problem answering to lawmakers from either side of the aisle.

He has been on both sides of the divide himself, once heading former BN ally Liberal Democratic Party and serving as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department before joining Warisan this year.

Careful choosing senators

As for the selection of senators, Liew warned that parties should be careful to choose only those with the correct expertise for the job.

“In England, they have House of Lords which serves the country and party. The members have wide experience in many fields, and then they can contribute effectively.

“I wish the same would happen here. We want to members of the Dewan Negara to serve the country effectively in their respective duties, instead of being, as they say, a rubber stamp.”

Liew disagreed, however, that Dewan Negara appointees need to be apolitical. 

"Like it or not, all the appointees are made politically. It is unthinkable for the federal government to put someone in who is not loyal and has no allegiance to the party.  

"But loyalty and allegiance are not the primary considerations. We are also looking at the merit of the particular person," he said.

Liew added that he would look into the possibility of increasing the proportion of senators nominated by state governments, to ensure that voices from around the country are heard. 

The Dewan Negara consists of 70 senators, of whom 26 are elected by state legislative assemblies, and the remaining 44 appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It currently comprises just 49 senators - 40 from BN, and nine from Harapan, PAS and NGOs.

Right to report

Liew also noted that he disagreed with previous Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia banning journalists from the Parliament lobby in March last year.

Pandikar had said that he and other lawmakers were not comfortable with their presence in the hallway, and restricted them to the media centre, located one floor below the lobby.

The minister said he would look into allocating a portion of the lobby for media personnel to doorstop either Harapan or opposition lawmakers.

"Let me look into it, I can guarantee that the media are given sufficient space and the lawmakers are obliged to answer the media in various issues raised in the house.

"You have the right to report, how can I restrict you?" he said.

Additionally, Liew will also be speaking to members of the press to determine the number of journalists needed to cover Parliament. At present, media outlets are only allowed to send three staff each into the Dewan Rakyat to cover the sitting.

"Let us discuss the issue, and come out with a win-win situation.”

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