PUTRAJAYA: The Parliament select committees (PSC) are the best platform for Perikatan Nasional MPs to monitor each ministry, says government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil.
This was because the select committees comprised members across political parties and could play their check-and-balance role in a more effective manner.
“Compared to the shadow Cabinet which Perikatan has set up, the select committee is where they can monitor the ministries,” he said.
“What will be the benchmark is the quality of arguments and debates presented by the lawmakers in Parliament.
“I suggest that friends in Perikatan serve effectively through the select committees that can convene a meeting at any time,” he said.
He also said that the shadow Cabinet concept was not new.
The matter, he said, was not raised at the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
On Feb 8, Perikatan announced its new shadow Cabinet without revealing its choice for shadow prime minister.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the new line-up was more focused on keeping in line with the changes made in the Cabinet reshuffle on Dec 12 last year.
When asked about Bersatu MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan “shadowing” the communications portfolio, Fahmi, who is Communications Minister, said he would respond to matters under his charge.
“Whether it is him or anyone who raises issues pertaining to communications, it is my responsibility to answer in Parliament,” he said.
This year’s Parliament session will begin on Monday, to be opened by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
On the Malaysian Media Council Bill, Fahmi said it is expected to be tabled in Parliament in June.
“Once the Cabinet approves the draft, it can be tabled in Parliament. We are targeting it to be tabled in June,” he said.
Fahmi said the Malaysian Media Council would be set up once the Bill had been passed.
He said the formulation of an Act to set up the council was initiated in 2019.
“However, it was on the backburner due to several changes in the government.
“But the government today is committed to seeing this materialise,” he added.
The Bill aims to outline a code of conduct and dispute resolution procedure for public complaints against the media and establish a budget for the council.
On another matter, Fahmi said the Cabinet did not discuss a number of resignations on the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).
However, he believed the matter was under the Prime Minister’s radar.
“I think the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister are looking into this,” he added.
LTAT has seen the resignation of three of its senior officials in the past few weeks.
On Jan 31, its chief executive Datuk Ahmad Nazim Abd Rahman quit with immediate effect.
Subsequently, Jeneral (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said on Feb 8 that he had resigned as LTAT chairman.
On Monday, the board’s senior director of strategy, Dayana Rogayah Omar, was reported to have tendered her resignation.
