KUALA LUMPUR – MPs and senators still carry out their duties as representatives of the people even though Parliament is not convening, therefore their salaries and allowances should be paid, said Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim.
Rais said MPs and senators continue to perform their duties outside of Parliament, such as meeting the people to channel government assistance, thus it is not appropriate to cut their salaries or allowances unless they volunteer to do so.
He said this when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme last night.
Rais was responding to a question raised by a caller on the need to cut salaries and allowances of MPs and senators as Parliament is currently not convening.
On January 12, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had agreed to proclaim a state of emergency nationwide until August 1 to curb the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Recently, however, Istana Negara in a statement stated that the king said Parliament could convene during the emergency on a date deemed appropriate by His Majesty on the advice of the prime minister.
Rais also disproved the perception that Dewan Negara is just a “rubber stamp” institution that only passes laws approved by Dewan Rakyat, adding that it had rejected several laws such as the Pesticides Act 2004 and Anti-Fake News Act in 2018.
“If the Senate does not approve of acts under Article 66 and others, there will be chaos and no laws in the country. That perception needs to be corrected. Together with my friends, we will try to restore this image in the national and international arenas,” he said.
Another panel member, constitutional expert Prof Datuk Shamrahayu Abd Aziz, said the Dewan Negara represents the interests of the various states in Malaysia.
“Two Senate members are appointed from among the assemblymen of each state to take care of its welfare issues. They also protect the groups not represented by the Dewan Rakyat, such as the Orang Asli and Sabah and Sarawak ethnic groups whose representatives did not win or contest in the election,” she said.
She further added that it is not right to question the function of the Dewan Negara while the people of this country have not been exposed to the importance of the sessions. – Bernama, March 11, 2021
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