According to activist and former Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, stability in government should not come at the expense of reforms. She believes that the recent suggestion for a Fixed-Term Parliament Act (FTPA) may help stabilise the Executive and protect against repeats of the February 2020 Sheraton Move or recent purported Dubai Move plot.
Chin expressed concerns about the potential drawbacks of introducing such an Act, asking whether it could keep a government in power even if it cannot deliver on its policies, and whether it could potentially create a deadlock in Parliament that could be dangerous to the nation.
She emphasized the need for thorough and detailed discussions on suggestions of national interest, and called for debates to take place before jumping in blindly to support piecemeal reforms.
Maria Chin Abdullah emphasized the need for systematic planning of reforms in the short, middle and long terms, provided the intention behind the suggestion of the FTPA is to improve parliamentary democracy. She criticized the suggestion of stopgap measures post- GE15, highlighting the need to set clear direction on reform priorities.
She also cited a few examples, such as the anti-party hopping law, the proposed revival of the Parliamentary Services Act, legislation on political financing, and fixing the term of the Prime Minister, as areas that require reform.
She voiced concerns about the flawed implementation of the anti-hopping law and the general lack of awareness about the status of promised reforms in the public. She questioned the intentions behind the sudden proposal for a fixed government term, calling the proposed law dangerous and undemocratic. Additionally, she pointed out the potential problems that could arise from poorly drafted legislation, using the United Kingdom as an example.
She emphasized that a conducive political environment is essential for a government with a fixed term to function effectively, calling for improvements in key institutions like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, and the police force to counter corruption, abuse of powers, and violation of freedoms.
Maria pleaded for more active public discussion on the FTPA as well as a clear reform plan before the Parliament begins drafting the relevant Bill. She stressed the importance of bringing the discussion to the public, stating that amendments that touch on the Constitution deserve public participation and must not be left to the whims and fancies of an elite few.
Responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s suggestion for a specific law to allow any government to complete its full five-year term, Maria emphasized the need for a more participatory and discussive approach to policymaking and called for serious democracy.
