Listen to the pleas of the people

I REFER to the report “Heated moments in Parliament as MPs demand answers on floods” (The Star, Dec 20; online at https://bit.ly/3mnF0Eg).

I find it very disturbing that the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat denied the request of several lawmakers to debate the measures taken by the government to help victims of severe floods that hit five states during the weekend, especially as fatalities were involved. The Speaker said the matter could not be debated because it was not listed in the order paper, and insisted on complying with parliamentary procedure.