A First For Dewan Rakyat With Slot For Ministers Reports

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Four ministers gave ministerial statements to the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, the first time such a procedure has been adopted. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Rakyat introduced a slot for reports by ministers yesterday by which, for the first time, they can brief MPs on important public issues, followed by a debate in which the MPs can give their views.
Subang MP Wong Chen praised the inclusion of this new procedure in the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda. He said such open discussions had not taken place in the House before.
“I’ve been an MP for 11 years, and this is the first time I have seen such a format employed,” he told FMT, adding that the discussions were constructive.
First to make his ministerial statement was agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu, who spoke on the problem of rice supplies.
He was followed by natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who spoke on the haze; defence minister Mohamad Hasan, on Boustead Holdings and the littoral combat ship project; and home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, on prison and detention centre reforms.
The new procedure of providing ministerial statements is similar to the practice at Westminster, where ministers can bring up urgent matters to the House of Commons even on short notice.
Wong, who is with PKR, said the ministers are given about 15 to 20 minutes to give a speech explaining their position on pressing matters, after which MPs get the chance to ask questions and seek clarifications.
He said this allowed MPs to get quicker responses on contemporary matters, compared to seeking answers through written or oral questions.
“This is good as it is less formal and the House can discuss urgent national matters without too much politicking since this is not a motion and a vote is not required.
“This informality allows more free and open discussions and the MPs’ positions tend to be one of concern and trying to find constructive solutions rather than an outright policy quarrel,” he said.
He said it also sends a clear signal to the public that Parliament is committed to implementing new formats and ideas. - FMT

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