We are at war with the inevitable and I know I don’t speak for myself when I say that
it’s time for the Government to reconvene Parliament sitting in Malaysia with
immediate urgency.
In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed overbearing stress on public hospitals and its personnel; an increase in job losses of Malaysian workers and migrant workers; increase of complaints on the spike in prices of goods and services; and increase of concerns on whether there is an effective system in place in regards to food aid distribution. We’ve also heard of a number of struggling business establishments that have found difficulty in getting approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to open shop due to the flood of traffic on its online portal.
In the context of these emergencies, it is highly regrettable that the Perikatan Nasional government has only allocated a day for Parliamentary sitting and that too, scheduled only on May 18. It is pivotal to keep in mind that Parliament- as a pillar of a democratic system to balance power, pass laws and act and represent the will of the Rakyat – is especially critical now to assuage public fears and ensure swift delivery of resources to communities in need especially those who are undeserved or marginalized.
More importantly, legislatures are an essential line of defence against executive branch power abuse which includes potential abuse of state resources. Above all, there must also be an effective check and balance on the RM250 billion Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN); ensuring its effectiveness and delivery. In the face of this unprecedented pandemic, Parliament sittings cannot be construed as a normal proceeding. On the contrary, it should be viewed as a place of solidarity for us to make and take the right measures as a collective; and to mobilise join efforts towards proper and rational mechanisms of aid delivery.
There is much we can learn from other countries: - Legislatures in Albania, Colombia, Brazil, and the Maldives have adjusted their parliamentary rules of procedure to work remotely and convene virtually. - Members of Parliament in France, Germany, Norway, and Croatia are holding parliamentary sessions, but requiring limited numbers of MPs in the room – all of them abide by social distancing recommendations. - Additionally, legislators in Armenia, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Kosovo are connecting with constituents and sharing updates on Covid-19 through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. How are we – the MPs in Malaysia, empowered to update our constituencies if Parliament does not sit and deliberate on critical issues impacting the Rakyat during this crucial period?
I urge the Pakatan Nasional government to call for an emergency Parliamentary sitting as soon as possible and before May 18 through a virtual sitting that will enable all MPs to air the concerns of their constituencies and convey decisive messages to the people they represent. We are living in extraordinary times that will require us to think out of the box and implement innovative solutions. I – for one, will work with the Pakatan Nasional government to be part of the solution in overcoming the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the Rakyat.
M. Kula Segaran
Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, Perak
National Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Action Party
Former Human Resources Minister, Malaysia
AA 19 April 2020
In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed overbearing stress on public hospitals and its personnel; an increase in job losses of Malaysian workers and migrant workers; increase of complaints on the spike in prices of goods and services; and increase of concerns on whether there is an effective system in place in regards to food aid distribution. We’ve also heard of a number of struggling business establishments that have found difficulty in getting approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to open shop due to the flood of traffic on its online portal.
In the context of these emergencies, it is highly regrettable that the Perikatan Nasional government has only allocated a day for Parliamentary sitting and that too, scheduled only on May 18. It is pivotal to keep in mind that Parliament- as a pillar of a democratic system to balance power, pass laws and act and represent the will of the Rakyat – is especially critical now to assuage public fears and ensure swift delivery of resources to communities in need especially those who are undeserved or marginalized.
More importantly, legislatures are an essential line of defence against executive branch power abuse which includes potential abuse of state resources. Above all, there must also be an effective check and balance on the RM250 billion Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN); ensuring its effectiveness and delivery. In the face of this unprecedented pandemic, Parliament sittings cannot be construed as a normal proceeding. On the contrary, it should be viewed as a place of solidarity for us to make and take the right measures as a collective; and to mobilise join efforts towards proper and rational mechanisms of aid delivery.
There is much we can learn from other countries: - Legislatures in Albania, Colombia, Brazil, and the Maldives have adjusted their parliamentary rules of procedure to work remotely and convene virtually. - Members of Parliament in France, Germany, Norway, and Croatia are holding parliamentary sessions, but requiring limited numbers of MPs in the room – all of them abide by social distancing recommendations. - Additionally, legislators in Armenia, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Kosovo are connecting with constituents and sharing updates on Covid-19 through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. How are we – the MPs in Malaysia, empowered to update our constituencies if Parliament does not sit and deliberate on critical issues impacting the Rakyat during this crucial period?
I urge the Pakatan Nasional government to call for an emergency Parliamentary sitting as soon as possible and before May 18 through a virtual sitting that will enable all MPs to air the concerns of their constituencies and convey decisive messages to the people they represent. We are living in extraordinary times that will require us to think out of the box and implement innovative solutions. I – for one, will work with the Pakatan Nasional government to be part of the solution in overcoming the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the Rakyat.
M. Kula Segaran
Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, Perak
National Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Action Party
Former Human Resources Minister, Malaysia
AA 19 April 2020
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