KUALA LUMPUR: G25, the group of influential Malays, said it was concerned over the Government's decision to hold a limited one-day parliamentary sitting.

It said with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), large sectors of the public have already resumed work, and as such, so should the legislative body.

"There should not be double standards between the public and the Members of Parliament. If the safety measures are optimal for the public to resume their duties at their offices, it should be just as good for the federal legislature who have a constitutional duty under the Federal Constitution to hold the parliamentary sessions," the civil society organisation said in a statement today.

The one day sitting is as per the Notice issued by the Secretary of the Dewan Rakyat dated April 17.

According to the Notice, the sitting is only to hear the Speech of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and to table certain legislations for their first reading.

The Dewan Secretariat's Notice has also informed the Members of Parliament that only laws and government matters related to the fight against Covid-19 would be the focus of the proceedings; and that there would be no question and answer sessions or motions raised in the House.

The group said that all three branches of the government comprising the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary need to continue to function as normally as possible.

"At the forefront, the public can observe that the judiciary is functioning by, among others, dealing with MCO violators.

"The public can also see that the executive is enforcing the law by deploying the police force and health officials," G25 said, adding that they were very grateful that these two branches could carry out their functions effectively.

It said the Executive and Judiciary had taken the necessary precautions and safety measures needed to execute their duties.

"There is also no reason why the Legislature cannot fulfil its duties as effectively and professionally.

"Limiting parliamentary sitting to only one day (and, even that, in a limited manner) might be perceived as an executive interference with the effective and healthy functioning of the Legislature, besides setting a bad precedent for future parliamentary sittings," it said.

The G25 also claimed that the people's voices have been less heard ever since Perikatan Nasional (PN) took over.

It said the people movements have been restricted and their ability to work and to provide for their families have been hindered.

"The people need to be assured that their right to be heard via their parliamentary representatives will not be taken away from them", it said.

It said that the role of parliament is not only to pass legislative bills presented by the government to the Dewan Rakyat but, equally important, also to provide a forum to voice the people's concern through their representatives.

"This is the democratic political process that the Prime Minister and his ministers should be committed to particularly by prioritising matters of public concern," G25 said.

It said there were several urgent issues which the public needs the Prime Minister of this new government and his ministers to explain, e.g. his policy on the appointment of political nominees to the boards of government-linked companies (GLCs) and statutory bodies.

The group also questioned the appointment of Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as a special envoy to the Middle East as well as the disparity in punishment meted out to those who violate the MCO, and the inconsistencies of the enforcement officers in dealing with offenders.

Further, the civil society organisation said the public needs to be reassured that the proceedings of the high-profile court cases involving top-ranking political leaders would continue in the courts and in the manner as it should be per law.

It said the public needs to know whether the Prime Minister is as committed to the reform agenda, as much as he was when he was a minister in the Pakatan Harapan government.

"The public needs assurance that the Prime Minister, as head of the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, had not changed his mind about the reforms needed for a good and clean government," it said.

G25 said that it would like to see the parliamentary select committees be made functional in providing the oversight role over ministries, statutory agencies and GLCs to prevent abuse of ministerial powers especially in the appointment of political nominees to head important positions in the public sector.

"We raise these matters which the opposition members would most probably want to address in parliament because they are fundamental as a guide to the public on where the country is heading as a parliamentary democracy," it said.

The group said the answers to these questions would also indicate to the private sector how they should plan their investment strategies.

"If they doubt the stability of the democratic system, and the reliability of its administrative and legal infrastructure for rule of law, justice and good governance, they will not commit to their future investments.

"With the impact of an unimaginable magnitude that the Covid-19 pandemic brings to our economy, it is now more important than ever for Malaysia, like the rest of the world, to restore economic confidence in our country," it said.

The group said on the economic policy, the people wanted to know the government's plans for reviving the economy and whether the country has sufficient resources to finance the large programmes for growth.

Also, it said that the public is concerned, that while the revenue would be severely affected by the impact of the global recession and the sharp fall of the price of oil, the government has appointed a cabinet with the largest number of members in Malaysian history, making it perhaps the largest in the world and a potential subject of international ridicule.

It fears that having a large cabinet would tarnish the nation's national image.

The G25 said that the government was already spending a substantial amount on salaries and pensions. The huge number of ministers, deputy ministers and their political officials will impose a heavy burden on the operating budget.

"We should be spending more on public health, not on ministers' salaries and perks. A stronger and more robust public health system and organisation can guarantee better capability and readiness to deal with any future pandemic, which now appears to be a greater possibility than before," the G25 said.

The group added that it is in PN's best interest to have a full parliamentary session as this will enhance confidence and renew faith among the people, that the government has their interest at heart and that it will uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the doctrine of Separation of Powers.

"Just as the public adheres to rules and regulations, the government too should subscribe to the laws embodied in the Federal Constitution and constitutional principles. The people have been asked to get used to a 'new normal'. But, this acceptance of the 'new normal' cannot and will not be at the expense of the laws and processes which make this country a democracy," it said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/591142/g25-calls-legislative-body-emulate-executive-judiciary-carrying-out