KUALA LUMPUR: While being absent in Parliament without proper justification is unacceptable, there are no plans to make MPs’ attendance compulsory, says Tan Sri Johari Abdul (pic).
The Dewan Rakyat Speaker acknowledged that some MPs do not attend Parliament regularly, but their absence may be due to various factors, including health issues.
“What worries me is that many who are not ill or sick, yet still do not attend.”
Johari said there are three categories of MPs – the good, the bad and the ugly.
“The good ones are those who always attend Parliament and participate in debates, which I thank for their efforts; the bad ones are MPs who also attend Parliament but always complain about things.
“And the worst are the ugly ones who don’t attend but go up on stage to talk as though they are attending Parliament every day,” he told reporters after a dialogue session with the Malaysian Bar yesterday.
The media recently highlighted chronic absenteeism by MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, with Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang topping the list at just 29.8% (67 days).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein followed with 68 and 82 days respectively.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recorded a 47.6% attendance rate, clocking 107 days.
Asked if action could be taken against errant MPs who are absent without justification, Johari said there are no specific rules under Parliament’s Standing Order.
“I do not intend to change the rules to make attendance compulsory.
“The MPs had stood in the elections and made promises to the people. The onus is on them.”
Johari added that it would be a mockery if he had to play the role of headmaster with a cane.
“Their constituents may punish them in the future,” he said.
On the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Johari said there should be more open public discussions to allow the government to decide on the law.
“I am encouraging open discussions. Whatever decision on Sosma will depend on what the stakeholders want, be it better enforcement of the law or its abolishment,” he added.
Since its implementation, the use of Sosma has drawn criticism from several quarters with some calling for its abolishment.
Yesterday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said calls to abolish preventive laws such as Sosma should be rejected.
He said a balance must be struck between human rights and the need to maintain national peace and security.
Last week, the Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform proposed eight recommendations to amend Sosma.
Among them is a review of the 28-day detention period and the definition of security offences, terrorism-related crimes and organised crime under Sosma.
