Speaker promises new beginnings for Parliament in 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: A new broom is sweeping through the Dewan Rakyat, heralding an exciting year to come for this cornerstone of democracy.

There will be new Bills tabled by the end of this year as well as amendments made to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 to increase fines for unparliamentary behaviour from the current RM1,000 to a maximum of RM10,000, among other changes, said Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

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“Senate President Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was very supportive and he wants it done.

“Probably by next year, we should start fresh with the amended Act,” said Johari in an exclusive interview with The Star last Friday.

The Speaker also said there are proposals to increase the length of suspensions imposed on MPs for making uncouth remarks during Parliament sittings.

“The maximum number of days an MP can be suspended is 10 at the moment. But if you want 30 or 60 days; it is possible, there is a provision there. But you need to get clearance from the House Committee.

“Once the House Committee agrees, then the Act has to be amended and these MPs will be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee,” said Johari.

In conjunction with that, Parliament will come up with guidelines on decorum in the House for MPs.

“It was being undertaken by Tan Sri Rais Yatim, but he left (as Senate president) too soon.”

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According to Johari, Wan Junaidi has given his commitment as Senate president to present the guidelines by the end of this year.

Setting a new benchmark: Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari being interviewed by journalists from The Star.— ONG SOON HIN/The Star

Johari also said proposals to introduce harsher fines for uncouth MP behaviour are a clear signal by him that the august House will not tolerate “nonsense” anymore.

“When an MP walks into Parliament, they are paid by the taxpayers handsomely, receiving not just daily allowances but also lodging allowances and car loans, among others. So as an MP, you have to reciprocate the expectations of the people.

“When you are in the House, I expect you to talk about substance and not nonsense,” he added.

He pointed out that when an MP heckles parliamentary sittings, they are not just wasting his time as the Speaker but also taxpayers’ money.

“It is my responsibility to ensure that this doesn’t continue anymore. I will talk about it with my two deputies. It will be tough this time around because I want MPs to take this seriously and I want them to behave,” he said.

The former Sungai Petani representative also said that he understands why certain MPs behave badly: they were formerly government backbenchers before becoming the Opposition after the general election.

“It is a psychological burden when you lose that kind of confidence. To take the position of Opposition and to behave as one isn’t easy. I was in the Opposition for a long time.

“That is why sometimes they misbehave; they can’t accept the fact that they are Opposition now,” said Johari.

Regardless, the Speaker stressed, it is important that he remain impartial, and government backbenchers and Opposition MPs must always be given equal opportunities to speak in the House.

“I’m here for nation-building. I’m not here to elevate or bring down any party. I want to see how MPs contribute to nation-building not just in their words but in their actions too,” he said.

Among the Bills that will be tabled by the end of the year that Johari is particularly looking forward to is the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA), which was repealed in 1992.

“New laws are coming, and so many things are happening. I’m excited to have that new PSA because it gives us total independence and helps us proceed at a much greater speed,” said Johari.

While there are various procedures to go through to introduce the PSA, he assured Malaysians that there would be no delays.

“At the moment, we want the Cabinet’s approval; then it will be tabled in Parliament where the MPs will debate it and eventually pass it.

“That will happen, if everything goes fine, in the October meeting, and I hope that by the end of the year, after the Senate approves it, we will have a new Bill by next year,” said Johari.

The PSA was first introduced in 1963 to pave the way for Parliament to be independent from the executive branch of government; the Act allowed for the House to manage its own affairs, including selecting staff and controlling expenditure.

However, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, during his first stint as prime minister, repealed it in 1992. Parliamentary affairs then fell under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Over the years, there have been repeated calls by civil society groups for the PSA to be revived.

Meanwhile, Johari also said the Malaysian Youth Parliament initiative – a youth council and simulation of parliamentary proceedings – will have its age limit reduced so that students as young as 16 can run as candidates by next year.

“We are changing the election system now,” he added.

At present, only those aged 18 and above can try to become elected to the council.

“Because by 18 years old, they can stand as MPs and for all you know, they could become candidates in the general election.

“Reducing the age limit of Youth Parliament candidates gives them two years to understand the election process and democracy before going to the ballot box,” explained Johari.

Parliament will have a special meeting from Sept 11-19 for a mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

The next Parliament sitting will be from Oct 9 to Nov 30, when Budget 2024 is expected to be tabled, debated, and passed.