‘Parliament allowance to be docked over absence’

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers who skip Parliamentary proceedings will not be entitled to their RM500 daily attendance allowance, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said there are no laws to cut MPs’ monthly salary as penalty for being absent from Parliament.

“The attendance level should of course be better, particularly among Ministers and Deputy Ministers, but there could be valid reasons for their non-attendance sometimes,” he told The Star yesterday.

This is following Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comment that Pakatan Harapan MPs who were absent from Parliament proceedings had been given a warning.

Last Thursday, proceedings to debate Budget 2020 were halted temporarily due to a lack of quorum.

Standing Order 13 states that there must be at least 26 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan for proceedings to be held.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, in an immediate response, said that a special timetable and rules for Pakatan lawmakers would be introduced today to ensure sufficient attendance in the Dewan Rakyat.

Liew, the Minister in charge of Parliament, said that he had informed all Pakatan lawmakers to buck up their attendance and performance.

“This is on top of the Ministers’ and Deputy Ministers’ schedule,” he told reporters.

Liew said he would also be taking attendance of parliamentarians in the august House and monitor their performance.

“The report will be submitted to their respective whip chiefs and also the Prime Minister,” he said.

Pressed if it was appropriate to reveal those who did not attend the Dewan Rakyat, he said the matter would be left to the whip chiefs.

“I disagree because I will be informing the whip chiefs,” he said, adding that he had already met all the whip chiefs of all component parties and had received their comments based on Liew’s proposal.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said all parties across the board must do their job as they have been elected by the people.

“For ministers, we already have a set schedule on which days we are supposed to attend,” she said, adding that she will set her schedules and programmes accordingly.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) said that the reason behind the lack of quorum could be due to poor coordination.

He added that perhaps the Government’s Backbenchers Club could come up with a similar schedule to ensure there will be enough numbers in the Dewan.

“We take the matter seriously and I will make the proposal (to relevant parties),” Nik Nazmi said.

Kluang DAP MP Wong Shu Qi said that it should be the Government and Opposition MPs’ responsibility to maintain quorum in the House.

Wong also pointed out that the Opposition tend to blame Pakatan MP’s for not attending parliament sitting.

“If attending Parliament is not their (Opposition) responsibility, then why should they come to Parliament. They should bear equal responsibility,” she added.

Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Parliament, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the current minister, Liew should ensure the attendance of lawmakers.

“Once the Prime Minister has said it, then Liew must crack the whip and enforce what has been directed.

“You can’t cut the (monthly) pay of MPs as a punishment because that is a right under the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Nazri however said the best punishment for frequent absentees is to not nominate them to run as MPs in the next general election.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) said that he has raised the matter many times, saying that it shows that the Government is not serious about Parliament proceedings.

“They should be in the Dewan. If the ministers could not attend, then at least the deputy ministers must be there.

“It is impossible that both ministers and deputy ministers are busy at the same time,” he said.

Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali (PAS-Kuala Nerus) said the most important thing is the attendance of the ministers and deputy ministers during debate sessions.

“It has been a practice during the previous government that at least a minister or the deputy is present.

“But yesterday evening (Dec 21), it was almost empty.

“It shows that they do not coordinate properly,” said the PAS lawmaker.