KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MPs have called on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to exercise complete impartiality, especially when it comes to questions to ministers during Question Time.
Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan, a former minister in the prime minister’s department (Parliament and law), said that the Speaker’s job is to be fair.
He said under Parliament Standing Orders, the Speaker can allow MPs to direct three questions to the Prime Minister or ministers during Question Time.
“This stops us from cross-examining the Prime Minister and the ministers,” claimed Takiyuddin, who also alleged that motions by Opposition MPs rarely see the light of day.
Meanwhile, Larut MP and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin alleged that this meant Opposition MPs were unable to play a check-and-balance role in the Parliament.
“Many issues raised in the Parliament go unanswered when they are supposed to be discussed by MPs,” said Hamzah, during a press conference on Friday (Nov 3).
Also in attendance were Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Wan Ahmad Fahysal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
“We submit questions to the Speaker within the notice period but as it is the government which decides what questions to be answered, our questions are not picked. Sometimes, they do reply to our questions but only in written replies, which does not allow us to request for further explanation in the Dewan Rakyat,” claimed Hamzah.
