adminKUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Services Council briefing session at the Dewan Rakyat, here, was chaotic when government and opposition MPs exchanged words over the issue of management of allocations to elected representatives.
The uproar erupted after Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) raised questions about the meaning of fair service to all Members of Parliament, in addition to suggesting that the management of the representatives’ allocations be handed over to Parliament.
He claimed that opposition MPs did not accept the allocation and questioned why its management still involved executive intervention.
Shahidan also stressed that allocations to government MPs also need to be managed by Parliament to ensure fair treatment for all elected representatives.
Hearing this, Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) stood up to protest Shahidan’s statement and insisted that the provision in question was under the executive’s jurisdiction.
“Don’t confuse legislative power with executive power. Provisions are executive power, and the Prime Minister can decide who to give executive power to.
“Arau (Shahidan) is confused, he doesn’t even understand Parliament’s rights and powers,” he said.
The verbal spat continued as both MPs interrupted each other, before the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul, asked them to sit down.
Johari said Parliament is now given the power to administer its own affairs without interference from the executive, therefore all parties must give space to the discussion process.
“It is very unfortunate, let us just say, that Parliament is now given the power to govern itself without interference from the executive.
“Let these representatives sit down first. The Transitional Administrative and Parliamentary Services Council has just been formed, let them discuss.”
“Two representatives from the opposition, discuss first. I, the chairman, will listen to both sides and be fair to everyone,” he said.
-Agency
