In formation: Getting ready for the opening of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The issue of the addendum on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest is expected to spark fiery debates in Parliament, which starts on Monday, further testing Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s mettle.
The coming meeting will also see lawmakers continuing to debate the Media Council Bill 2024, which aims to pave the way for news organisations to regulate themselves.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), meanwhile, is expected to hold hearings on high-impact projects mentioned in the Auditor General’s reports and controversies surrounding government-linked companies such as Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
When contacted, Johari said he is fully prepared for possible fireworks in the August house and he will not hesitate to stamp his authority to ensure MPs maintain decorum.
“The rakyat expects substantive discussions and solutions to pressing issues, so it is imperative that debates remain focused, respectful and policy-driven. Parliament should serve as a platform for progress, not just political rhetoric,” he told The Star.
His no-nonsense approach was seen on July 18 last year when Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Kamal was suspended for six months after making allegations related to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad’s (MAHB) privatisation exercise.
On Dec 5, Pendang MP Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim was suspended for 10 days after he failed to apologise for insulting Johari on social media despite repeated calls to do so.
Come next week, Opposition MPs will likely try very hard to raise the issue of Najib’s house arrest because it is “good ammunition against the Prime Minister and Umno”, said political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is seeking a gag order to restrain the public from talking about the decree’s existence.
But this move is unlikely to deter Opposition MPs, Azmi said.
“There is no specific House rule to prevent MPs from raising the issue during debates.
“It will be left to the Speaker’s discretion to allow it or not,” said Azmi, who is a senior fellow with the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.
“There is precedence for this when, in 2016, former Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia barred the Dewan Rakyat from discussing the 1Malaysia Development Berhad issue,” Azmi said.
As for PAC, its chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee has scheduled hearings on the proposed takeover of MAHB, Khazanah Nasional’s domestic investments, land development by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and the rising cost of medical care and insurance.
“PAC will set the tone for the coming year by reinforcing institutional integrity and strengthening fiscal discipline, aligning with the principles of responsible governance.
“Our underlying goal is to ensure that every ringgit spent by the government truly benefits the rakyat,” Mas Ermieyati said when contacted.
The last two weeks of the meeting will see debates and votes on Bills such as the Media Council Bill, which was read for the first time during last year’s meeting.
If passed, it creates the long-awaited Media Council, which will be tasked with developing and enforcing a code of ethics with regard to news reporting.This includes procedures for dispute resolution for public complaints against the media while also establishing a budget for the council.
Although welcoming the move, several civil society organisations have raised concerns over the independence of the Media Council’s board due to its composition, which includes two government representatives.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) (Amendments) Bill 2024 was debated at last December’s meeting but no vote was taken to pass it.
The Bill was instead referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Infrastructure, Public Transport and Communications and the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform for further scrutiny.This was because several opposition lawmakers and backbenchers raised concerns over the proposed changes to the law governing the MCMC.
Another Bill that is being closely watched this year is the Parliamentary Service Bill, which will make the institution even more independent, but it is unclear when it will be tabled.
During the last meeting in December, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Law and Institutional Reform) informed the Dewan Rakyat that the Bill, including amendments to the Federal Constitution, would be brought to the Cabinet for approval first.
She said that the draft Bill was almost finalised with only staffing issues that had to be ironed out.
The Bill seeks to revive the Parliamentary Service Act that was first introduced in 1963 but was abolished in 1992 during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first administration.
If passed, the law would see Parliament managing its own administrations and finances.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, will open the First Meeting of the 4th Term of Parliament next Monday, with Dewan Rakyat sitting for 18 days until March 6.
