Time to restore the dignity of Parliament

WHEN we talk about the new Government that is in place after GE14, we usually think of the men and women who now occupy offices in the Prime Minister’s Department and the ministry buildings in Putrajaya.

But that is the executive arm of government. As the textbooks will tell you, there are two other branches – the legislative and the judicial. Both have also seen major changes following the general election two months ago.

On Wednesday, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum became the country’s Chief Justice. The 65yearold Kadazandusun is the first East Malaysian to head the judiciary.

The new Court of Appeal president and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak were sworn in the day after. At the ceremony, reporters were told about the appointment of the next Chief Judge of Malaya.

All three branches of government will be duly tested over the next few years. The rakyat’s resolve and hope for a better tomorrow must be matched with good performance and governance.

The public scrutiny combines bursts of intense attention – for example, when Cabinet members reveal significant policy decisions or when the courts make landmark rulings – with a constant appraisal of longterm effectiveness.

For the federal lawmakers, their trial by fire officially begins tomorrow with the taking of oath as MPs.

On Tuesday, Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will address Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

This marks the opening of the first session of the 14th Parliament.

Over the subsequent 18 days, we will see how our elected representatives fare in the august House as they debate the Royal Address and proposed laws and discuss other government business.

It is useful to look at the MPs’ oath, which is set out in the Sixth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

In taking the oath, the legislators swear to faithfully discharge their duties to the best of their abilities, to bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia, and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

We hear such pledges often, and sometimes the words barely register with us as they drift by. It ought to be different this time; if we want others to be clear about our expectations, we should be equally clear about the responsibilities of those from whom much is expected.

As The Star columnist Datuk Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi describes it in a 2016 article, one of the primary functions of Parliament is “controlling the legislative destiny of our nation”. Such legislative power should be exercised with care.

Our MPs were chosen during an important part of the democratic process. Therefore, they should be nothing less than stout believers in democracy as well as the rights and institutions that support it.

We look forward to intelligent and impassioned debates in Parliament, minus the disrespect and provocation frequently on display in the past. Judging from Pakatan Harapan’s election promise to “restore the dignity of Parliament”, now should be a good time for reforms in how Parliament is structured and in how it does its work.

We hope to see representatives on both sides of the aisle contributing to efforts to make Parliament a sturdy yet independent limb of government. And let us all remember that the MPs have sworn “to preserve, protect and defend” the Federal Constitution.

It is unrealistic to expect an end to partisanship, but when our wakil rakyat take sides, may their stand be consistent always with the Constitution.