Johari mulls making MPs pay for being absent

KUALA LUMPUR: There is serious consideration to implement a measure that would deduct allowances for absent Members of Parliament (MPs), according to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul. The Speaker stated that there have been suggestions to amend the Parliament Standing Orders in order to facilitate this. The proposal is that MPs who do not attend for a certain number of hours in a day would have their allowance for that day withheld. The Speaker supports this idea, stating that MPs must spend a certain amount of time in the House to be entitled to their daily allowances, which amount to approximately RM500 per day. He further added that some MPs only attend for a few minutes before leaving and never returning.

Speaker Johari expressed his view that it is unfair for MPs to be absent when they are supposed to attend proceedings to discuss matters related to their constituency and constituents. He admitted that MPs are sometimes absent for several days, but he does not have the authority to penalize them. He suggested that if MPs are continuously absent without valid reasons, the Speaker should have the power to withhold their allowances as a form of punishment. This proposal will be raised in the House Committee, which Johari chairs and consists of members from various political parties. He stated that he will discuss the matter with the committee and determine the feasibility of the proposal.

The Speaker also mentioned that he has observed comments on social media regarding the issue of absenteeism among MPs. He highlighted that people question why MPs are absent without reason, especially during Prime Minister’s Question Time on Tuesdays when the Prime Minister is present. Johari believes Parliament should have a full house during these important sessions. He also emphasized that Thursdays are designated for Minister’s Question Time and MPs should take advantage of these opportunities to attend.

Johari expressed his hope that MPs understand their responsibilities and find it unnecessary for him to bring up this issue. In the first meeting of the 15th Parliament, only 97 MPs achieved a perfect attendance record. According to Parliament Standing Order 13, a minimum of 26 MPs must be present for proceedings to take place in the 222-seat Dewan.