Pakatan says MPs do not actually need to be in Parliament

Due to  modern technology MPs and Ministers can follow Parliament sessions from home and do not actually need to be in Parliament

(The Star) – Perhaps Cabinet members and MPs are tired of listening to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak talking in the Dewan Rakyat, hence the empty hall, quips Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Home Minister made the remark following complaints that ministers and government MPs were not in the House on Wednesday (OCt 24) when the Pekan MP was debating the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan.

“It’s up to the ministers and MPs to listen or not to listen.

“Everything will be in the Hansard, anyway, and officers present will take notes on the issues raised, so I don’t think this is a big issue.

“I’m not sure why they didn’t listen. Maybe they have listened too often.

“Whether they’re bored of hearing him or what, I do not know. Only God knows,” Muhyiddin said at a press conference in a Parliament meeting room after chairing a meeting on foreign workers.

He said it was not unusual for lawmakers to address an empty Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran, who was also present at the press conference, said with current technology, ministers and MPs could follow parliamentary proceedings from anywhere.

On Tuesday (Oct 23), PAS Pendang MP Awang Hashim called for a review of allowance for lawmakers who failed to turn up for Parliament sittings without valid reason.

Awang pointed out that MPs who attended a meeting for a short time and those who attended a whole day’s sitting got the same allowance. He urged for a review of MPs’ allowances.