PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Rakyat Speaker has vowed that Parliament will continue to perform its function based on the law and regulations when it meets on Monday, despite the latest political developments.

Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said with the opening of the year’s first meeting, the focus would be on Parliament.

“It must be stressed, that as an independent body with integrity, Parliament will always play its role based on current laws and regulations which binds it proceedings, ” he said during a virtual telecast at the launching of the Malay edition of the “Malaysian Parliamentary Procedure: A Guide to Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat” from the Parliament library.

Opposition leaders have criticised the government’s decision to disallow debates in the one-day Parliament meeting.

It has been announced that the meeting would only feature the opening address of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with no other government matter scheduled.

On the book, Mohamad Ariff said the publication was timely due to the overwhelming interest to understand and follow the country’s parliamentary procedures and rules which had drawn a considerable amount of media glare over the last few months.

“Throughout the history of Parliament, a guidebook such as this has never been produced, at least not since 1969.

“The book will be a practical manual for MPs. It will help them understand and explore the complexity of the Standing Orders and explain it in a more simple manner.

“Specifically, the purpose of this manual is to provide MPs with wide-ranging, informative and instructional guidelines on the existing Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, ” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Ariff announced the appointment of Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin as the new Dewan Rakyat Secretary with immediate effect.

Nizam, 45, who has a law degree from Universiti Malaya (UM) and a masters degree in law from Monash University, replaces Riduan Rahmat who has been appointed as the Dewan Negara management division secretary.

He is presently studying for a PhD focusing on parliamentary affairs at UM’s Law Faculty.

Opposition lawmakers expressed their concerns over the replacement of Riduan just before the meeting on Monday.

Riduan was appointed to the post less than three months ago on Feb 22.

Leaders from Pakatan Harapan, Parti Pribumi Bersatu and Parti Warisan Sabah said Riduan’s sudden replacement was “shocking.”

“Such a move is worrying as it will create a perception that there is undue influence from certain parties on the Parliamentary institution, ” said a joint statement issued by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/15/an-independent-body-with-integrity