GEORGE TOWN – A civil society luminary has welcomed the suggestion for the Dewan Negara to be allowed to resume next month to discuss the growing seriousness of the Covid-19 crisis in Malaysia.
Chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Studies under the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said the Senate is a good platform to encourage healthy debate among lawmakers in the upper house.
Navaratnam was commenting on PKR Senator Yusmadi Yusoff urging for the reconvening of the Dewan Negara amid the worsening pandemic.
“The proposal by Senator Yusmadi Yusoff deserves the attention of the government.
“I think Yusmadi has come out with something good.
“With Parliament (lower house) staying silent in the face of a crisis, it is unhealthy for the country,” said Navaratnam in an interview.
The former Transport Ministry secretary-general also said there were reasons for Parliament’s suspension but there can also be other reasons to compensate for it.
“As the Senate (is not made up of) elected members; they are rather appointed, there would be less need for politicking and the outcome from the debates and proposals can in turn become the groundwork to offer solutions that the country needs.
“If there is a challenge to hold the sitting in public due to Covid-19, then the Senate should hold their proceedings online.
“It is through healthy debates that we can build a positive consensus based on support from most of the people.
“This is needed to overcome the crises.
“History has proven that through debates, we can find solutions for the country,” said Navaratnam, an economist.
According to Navaratnam, in order to fight Covid-19 successfully, support from the majority of the people is required, and they must understand what is at stake before the pandemic can be overcome.
“To just enforce (a) stricter movement control order (MCO), it will not generate the desired outcome as what the previous efforts have proven.
“What is needed is for the people to buy into the concept.
“The government has taken pains to come out with a pragmatic MCO but the people must support it, otherwise it may not work.
“Unless we resort to the harsher part which is a curfew which I do not think the people want,” said Navaratnam.
Navaratnam acknowledged that some people are also partly to be blamed for the continuous spread, saying they are lacking in patriotism and have hurt, rather than help the country.
“There is also a need to invoke a patriotic spirit in the struggle against Covid-19.”
Navaratnam also called on Parliamentarians to step up their efforts in convincing their constituents to abide by the Covid-19 standard operating procedures and to also register for the vaccine. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021
