Previously, there was 'live telecast' but unfortunately most of the program was interviews conducted when parliament proceedings were going on, We did not see much of what is happening in Parliament itself. Now, under the new Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek, we get to see the proceedings live with no interruptions for about 90 minutes - we hope in the future, we will get the full proceedings live.
What is disturbing is that many MPs are absent - both from government and also the Opposition. There may be justification if it were the Ministers and Deputy Ministers who have their own duties - but why are back-benchers and Pakatan Rakyat MPs also absent? Remember, you are the elected people's representatives, and minimum requirement is that you are there in Parliament for all proceedings - asking questions and raising points for consideration.
Why are they absent? Are they out there doing business or personal enrichment activities. MPs and people's representatives must be persons who can and will devote their full time to their duties. Attending parliamentary sessions is mandatory unless one is sick or have some other 'very good' reason. The other times, it is their duty to be serving their constituents and the people of Malaysia. If you cannot do that, then just do not offer yourself as a candidate or stand for elections, and nobody bothers whether you are there in Parliament or not.
These absent MPs, or those involved in their own business and work for personal enrichment when they should be attending Parliament and doing their work as MPs are an embarrassment - they should just resign and allow someone else be elected. You still can be involved in the party, and go around campaigning for the party - ceramahs, etc...no need to be MP or ADUN.
I also noted that because one MP was absent, his question was skipped - who suffers, it is the people. The chance to be able to raise questions in Parliament is so limited and precious - it is unforgivable when the MP who raised the question is absent.
The ATTENDANCE SHEET of MPs, including the time they arrive, leave and is absent for more than 30 minutes when proceedings are going on must be made available to the Rakyat - in the Parliamentary website.
The questions, oral/written and motions must also be placed on the website - this would also give the Rakyat of which MP is seriously doing their job as an MP and who is not.
KICK MPs out - those who just want to be MP but is not interested in doing their job.
Shabery: If MPs throw slippers, shoes, we'll all see
"If before this, people said that RTM is only used to air the faces of government leaders, it's not so any more.
"This is because during the live telecast, opposition MPs often ask many questions, therefore they would also get publicity."Some times they may even get more airtime than government leaders because there is no fixed time for government and opposition to speak (in Parliament)," he said in an interview published in Mingguan Malaysia today.
Shabery (left) said the extension of airtime from 30 minutes to 90 minutes during Question Time in Parliament was also to promote transparency in the house.
"If at that time they (MPs) throw slippers or shoes, we will all see," he was quoted as saying.
Shabery had first introduced the 30-minute live telecast when he was briefly information minister in 2008 but this was later amended by his successor Rais Yatim.
Under Rais, the 30-minute live telecast continued but the focus was on government minister providing answers and the telecast would cut to interviews with government MPs when the opposition ask their questions.
"Now, I would like to provide the opportunity once more to MPs, regardless whether they are from the government or opposition, to use this channel to help the development of this nation," he said in the interview.
However, Shabery acknowledged that his government colleagues had questioned the move when it was first introduced it in 2008, pointing out that opposition MPs had deliberately stalled in Parliament to hog airtime.
'Rakyat will judge'
'But I am of the opinion that in the end the rakyat will judge. The rakyat will see what is presented by the government and opposition and how the MPs behave when issues are raised," he said.
After the 90 minutes, Shabery said the remaining session would be aired on the Internet.
"We have to air the remaining session on the internet due to constraints as we only have two (national) television channels," he said in the interview.
Furthermore, he said a new television channel to only air the parliamentary session was impractical as it will be another analog transmission channel while the country is at the moment in the process of transitioning to digital signals.
Furthermore, he said setting up a new channel would cost between RM200 million to RM300 million.- Malaysiakini, 7/7/2013, Shabery: If MPs throw slippers, shoes, we'll all see
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