SINGAPORE, Nov 8 — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul aspires to see more mature debates and comprehensive representation in the hallowed halls of the Malaysian Parliament, where important decisions that shape a nation’s destiny are made.
He said while the effective role of MPs is paramount, their responsibility goes far beyond partisan politics.
In an interview with Bernama’s correspondent in Singapore recently after a courtesy call to his Singaporean counterpart Seah Kian Peng, Johari reflected on some of the flaws he witnessed while presiding over the Dewan Rakyat sessions.
“When the session is on, the public, either local or international, is watching live what is happening in our Parliament. Of course, as Speaker, I would like to see a more mature debate; not only that, MPs should be discussing issues of their constituency.
“Everybody expects them to perform as a check and balance of what the government is doing. For that, you need information. You need knowledge of what is going on,” he said.
Johari, 68, who has been serving as the 11th Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat since December 2022, noted “it is very pertinent that reading is compulsory for every MP.”
“I have seen some MPs coming unprepared. They came in, and they were not well-prepared in many subjects. So, we do not see that in the discussion,” he said, adding he is disappointed in such instances.
Johari observed that some of the MPs tend to harp on divisive issues.
“They repeatedly talk about the 3R (religion, royalty, and race). They are really concerned about religion, royalty, and race. The best approach is to adhere to authoritative guidance when discussing these sensitive topics.
“While they are important, they should be addressed in a manner that fosters acceptance and understanding among all parties involved. It is time to shift our focus to broader issues, as constantly dwelling on the 3R issues may perpetuate division.
“We should allocate more time to address dynamic and pressing matters,” he said, alluding to the current debate on Malaysia Madani Budget 2024 in Dewan Rakyat.
Johari feels the MPs should not only be crunching the numbers but also provide good advice to the government.
— Bernama
