Parliamentary democracy continues to flourish in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The first meeting of the first term of the 14th Malaysian Parliament kicked off at 10 am on July 16, 2018, with a different scenario following the historic victory of the new Coalition of Hope or Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the May 9 general election.
Barisan Nasional ( BN) Members of Parliaments ( MPs) which had been controlling the government’s side for the past six decades, are now seated among PAS’ MPs at the opposition’s side, with former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the Opposition Leader.
History was also created when Beluran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee of BN was appointed as the chairman of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee ( PAC), a position normally held by an MP from the ruling party.
The appointment was part of the pledges contained in the PH manifesto for GE14, aimed at restoring the Parliament’s credibility as the most important institution to ensure check and balance of executive power.
The 14th Parliament also saw the return of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Dewan Rakyat with his parliamentary reform agenda after winning Port Dickson parliamentary seat in a byelection on Oct 13.
The composition of seats in the Dewan Rakyat kept on changing after GE14 as several Umno MPs took turn to quit the party, either to join the government backbencher or to become an independent MP.
Among them were Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali of Bagan Serai, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal ( Bukit Gantang), Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin ( Masjid Tanah), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Jeli), Datuk Seri Anifah Aman ( Kimanis) and Datuk Rozman Isli ( Labuan).
Mustapa, Mas Ermieyati and Dr Noor Azmi eventually joined the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia ( Bersatu), while Rozman joined the Parti Warisan Sabah ( Warisan). The other two remained as Independent MPs.
The current composition of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat sees the ruling coalition controlling 128 seats, with PKR having 50 seats, followed by DAP (42), Bersatu (16), Amanah (11) and Warisan (nine). PH allies STAR and UPKO each has one seat.
In the opposition bloc, BN now has 40 seats, 37 of which are controlled by UMNO, two by MIC and one by MCA, PAS has 18, while Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah ( PBRS) and Parti Bersatu Sabah ( PBS) each has one.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) comprising four former BN component parties – Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak ( PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak ( PRS) and the Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP) – is currently the thirdlargest bloc in the Dewan Rakyat with 19 seats.
On Nov 30, the Election Court declared that BN’s victory for Cameron Highlands seat null and void after ruling that corrupt practices were committed to induce voters in the constituency during the GE14.
Despite having control of the Dewan Rakyat, the PH government’s efforts to repeal Anti- Fake News Act came to a dead end when it was blocked by the opposition- dominated Senate.
The Senate rejected the AntiFake News (Abolition) Bill 2018 on Sept 12 through a bloc voting which saw 28 members of the Senate not supporting, while 21 supported and three others abstained.
The bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 16.
On Nov 2, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled Budget 2019, which is the first for PH government.
Despite the antics and surprises sprang by the MPs, the 14th Parliament still proved that parliamentary democracy and federal constitutional monarchy system continues to flourish in Malaysia even with a change in the federal government. — Bernama