Rahman: Blaming minister won’t bring reforms Parliament needs

(Malay Mail Online) – Parliament has the authority to introduce “substantive” reforms that will have greater effect on lawmaking than eliminating the post of minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, said Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Commenting on claims by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia that Parliament was in danger of becoming a “rubber stamp” for Putrajaya, the federal minister said that there were available avenues to prevent this from becoming a reality.

“I am on record a great supporter of parliamentary reforms, I have asked on many occasions that we have more select committees, for an example.

“I’m not too worried about that ministerial post vis-à-vis the Dewan Rakyat Speaker,” Rahman said in an interview with Malay Mail Online.

Select committees would allow better and more focused lawmaking, he said, versus the current practice of Parliament’s 222 MPs “screaming at each other”.

On April 13, de facto law minister Nancy Shukri proposed that a parliamentary select committee and a Law Reform Commission to examine Bills prior to their tabling in Parliament, after Parliament repeatedly stopped its clock during the last session in order to rush through proposed laws.

On the Speaker’s claim that having a minister oversee Parliament erodes the doctrine of separation of powers, the Kota Belud MP pointed out that both Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim’s and Pandikar’s roles do not overlap.

While he disagreed that eliminating the role of parliamentary affairs minister was the only way to improve Parliament’s function, Rahman said he would be agreeable if it does result in better lawmaking.

“I’m just saying that if there is a solution, a suggestion to abolish that ministerial post, I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.

On May 19, Pandikar expressed his dissatisfaction over having a permanent minister to oversee parliamentary affairs, saying it suggested that the Speaker’s position was inferior to that of the minister.

Pandikar initially wanted to resign, allegedly over this and other grouses, but said he was convinced to stay by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.