Prove you are better than schoolchildren, Umno Youth chief tells MPs

MPs need to start proving they are better than schoolchildren if they don't want their names displayed for skipping parliamentary sessions, said Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

In a tongue-in-cheek statement today, he reminded them that the duties of MPs are not just to scream and shout in Parliament and engage in immature debates on issues that do not help the people.

"We ask schoolchildren to attend school because that is their responsibility, and one of the MP's responsibilities is to attend and maturely discuss the people's issues in Parliament," he posted on his Facebook today.

Akmal also uploaded a media report about dissatisfaction over a proposal to reveal the names of MPs who missed Dewan Rakyat sessions.

Two days ago, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul said the names of MPs found to be deliberately absent from parliamentary sittings will be displayed on the Dewan Rakyat website so that their parliamentary constituents can be informed of the matter.

He said this was among the improvements being implemented to boost the attendance of MPs during Dewan Rakyat sittings as they have responsibilities and duties towards the parliamentary constituency and constituents they represent.

Johari explained that he would discuss the suggestion with the parliamentary committee, which includes MPs from both the government and opposition blocs.

"We have a committee, so I can’t just give the order. In the committee, we have backbenchers and opposition MPs so we will discuss this and then decide when it begins.

"It’s best to do this as soon as possible, maybe at the upcoming sitting. This is the improvement we’re looking at as it will allow voters to find out which MP is absent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Akmal said MPs should set a good example as a leader to emulate.

"If we ask our schoolchildren to have discipline, why not ourselves? Leadership through example. It's as simple as that," he said.

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