I refer to the incident in Parliament yesterday, whereby substantial members of Parliament failed to turn up for an important debate and voting of the national 2010 Budget. As a result, the Budget was passed by a thin majority of 66-63.
However, the pertinent issue in the incident is not the thin majority of just three votes. It is the number of absentees of MPs that is mind boggling, from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
On record, there are only 129 members out of the whole 222 MPs who attended the debate and voting of the Budget. That’s only about 58% attendance for the debate and voting of an important issue, being the national 2010 Budget.
It is disappointing, as a Malaysian, to see that 42% of our representatives in Parliament failed to attend the debate and vote. So, does the voting yesterday really represent the votes and views of all Malaysian representatives around the country? Or does it just represent the votes and views of only those representatives who attended the sitting yesterday?
This should be an “eye opener” for Malaysians to see how they are represented in Parliament.
It is a known practice around the world that it may not always be possible for all MPs to attend Parliament sittings all the time due to their hectic schedules, in particular those holding important government positions.
There are even some absentees yesterday who are also members of state legislative assemblies. Although it is permitted under the Federal Constitution, it is now questionable whether a person holding the dual positions would be able to effectively fulfill their obligations.
Members of Parliament are actually voted by their respective constituencies and paid by the taxpayers to attend and represent them in the Parliament sittings, no matter how trivial the matter is to be tabled in the sitting. Their failure to be present in the august House would amount to failure to fulfill their obligations, even in situations where there are genuine reasons to serve the people elsewhere, fulfilling duties of national interest or even on medical leave.
Thus, it may be time for our Parliament to consider legislating and implementing “proxy voting” in our Parliament i.e. MPs are entitled to appoint an alternate person to vote on his behalf in Parliament when there is genuine reason for absence. The MPs shall be responsible for the conduct and votes of their respective proxies in Parliament.
This is to ensure that Parliament actually represents the votes and views of all Malaysians in their respective constituencies, instead of just the votes and views of those who attended the sittings.
MM
16/12/09
However, the pertinent issue in the incident is not the thin majority of just three votes. It is the number of absentees of MPs that is mind boggling, from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
On record, there are only 129 members out of the whole 222 MPs who attended the debate and voting of the Budget. That’s only about 58% attendance for the debate and voting of an important issue, being the national 2010 Budget.
It is disappointing, as a Malaysian, to see that 42% of our representatives in Parliament failed to attend the debate and vote. So, does the voting yesterday really represent the votes and views of all Malaysian representatives around the country? Or does it just represent the votes and views of only those representatives who attended the sitting yesterday?
This should be an “eye opener” for Malaysians to see how they are represented in Parliament.
It is a known practice around the world that it may not always be possible for all MPs to attend Parliament sittings all the time due to their hectic schedules, in particular those holding important government positions.
There are even some absentees yesterday who are also members of state legislative assemblies. Although it is permitted under the Federal Constitution, it is now questionable whether a person holding the dual positions would be able to effectively fulfill their obligations.
Members of Parliament are actually voted by their respective constituencies and paid by the taxpayers to attend and represent them in the Parliament sittings, no matter how trivial the matter is to be tabled in the sitting. Their failure to be present in the august House would amount to failure to fulfill their obligations, even in situations where there are genuine reasons to serve the people elsewhere, fulfilling duties of national interest or even on medical leave.
Thus, it may be time for our Parliament to consider legislating and implementing “proxy voting” in our Parliament i.e. MPs are entitled to appoint an alternate person to vote on his behalf in Parliament when there is genuine reason for absence. The MPs shall be responsible for the conduct and votes of their respective proxies in Parliament.
This is to ensure that Parliament actually represents the votes and views of all Malaysians in their respective constituencies, instead of just the votes and views of those who attended the sittings.
MM
16/12/09
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