We can make Malaysia a model of democracy

SINCE gaining Independence in 1957, Malaya and then Malaysia, has been practising the so-called Westminster-type of democracy but in the last 60 years the system has been changed beyond recognition.

So also its legal and judicial systems. What we have now are only skeletons of this British legacy that we have adopted, especially our Federal Constitution that was written by the so-called foreign experts, many a time without sufficient consultation with the Malayan (Malaysian) people.

And over the years every prime minister had made laws and changes, that are far from enhancing quality and transparency in government.

For instance in the Lower House (Dewan Rakyat), there is hardly time for Prime Minister’s Question Time, something which remains a robust feature in the British and Australian parliaments.

Next, there are hardly any early day motions submitted by the MPs to show their concern on local and international issues.

In our judicial system, we got rid of the jury system and the appeal to the judicial committee of the House of Lords or the Privy Council. I agree that the appeal to the Privy Council may no longer be necessary, but the jury system must be revived in the light of some decisions by some judges that have raised eyebrows.

The jury system or a “trial by your peers” will certainly enhance the integrity of our judicial system because our people are now more educated and will do the job very well, which will then eliminate all suspicion on judges and senior magistrates.

In so far as the legislative arm of the government is concerned, I would suggest we follow the example of Singapore, New Zealand and many other countries by having a ONE-HOUSE system. Let us get rid of the Upper House (Dewan Negara), which costs a lot of money.

In the beginning, the Dewan Negara used to be the house of senior politicians and community leaders. What do we have now? The former ruling coalition was using it for young politi- cians not yet selected to stand for elections. Quite a mockery of the Westminster democracy. In the UK, members of the House of Lords (the Upper House) are hereditary lords and senior politicians who were made lords as well as senior judges (who made up the privy council).

However, under the one-house system, we could make our democracy robust by setting up House Committees like the American House or Senate Committee in every sector of government administration.

The Senate Committee can have the powers to subpoena people like the governor of Bank Negara, for example, to give a regular report on their agencies’ performance.

This means our parliamentarians should work FULL-TIME.

The new prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad could also make the following changes, which I think will not only result in big savings in the budget but will also improve the world’s impression of our country.

Another way of saving money is to abolish the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.

In this age of the Internet, these two ministries have become quite redundant. Most information is now available via the Internet and the new media.

If the government is transparent I am sure the truth will take care of itself. There is definitely no need for Anti-Fake News laws and all that.

At the same time I would urge the government to revive the print media at the national level as well as local levels to cater for the increasing number of people who are quite fed up with the new media and would rather sit down and read a good newspaper.

If Dr Mahathir could go even further, he can also decentralise the police service, that is, the state police and city police and let the federal police to handle serious crimes like the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States.

SAAD HASHIM Ampang, Selangor