KUALA LUMPUR – Following the decree to convene Parliament as soon as possible, the speakers of both Houses have proposed to summon all MPs for a special one-day sitting in early August to make the necessary amendments to the Standing Orders and other issues pertaining to hybrid sittings.
One of the topics of discussion during the conference will be how to pay the allowance of federal lawmakers during hybrid meetings – laws that are governed by Statute Paper 235 of 1983 and Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.
A source close to a federal lawmaker, who requested anonymity, told The Vibes how appalling it is that an alleged motion to debate MP allowance will be tabled at the special sitting when the country is struggling to survive a pandemic and an economic crisis.
“This pandemic and economic fallout has led to people committing suicide out of sheer despair and desperation, and they want to discuss MP allowances.
“In the middle of a pandemic, in the middle of an economic crisis where it is so bad that people are committing suicides, they want to discuss allowances for MPs who attend the meetings virtually,” the source alleged.
The speaker does not want to discuss the emergency. He won’t discuss the economic crisis. He won’t discuss the pandemic. He won’t discuss public suffering. But he wants to discuss the MPs’ allowance.”
The source said some of the issues regarding the allowances to be presented to cabinet before being raised in the lower House will include the RM400 Parliament attendance allowance, RM300 government meeting allowance, and other travel allowances and benefits.
Under Malaysian law, MPs are paid RM400 for each day they attend a Dewan Rakyat sitting and RM300 for each government-related meeting, including seminars, briefings and workshops, among others.
When it comes to travel allowances, MPs receive RM100 meal allowances, hotel accommodation of up to RM400 as well as vehicle allowance.
“The issue about the allowance is because it’s a virtual meeting, MPs living out of Klang Valley are asking if they are eligible for their allowance if they attend it online. Until this is amended, only MPs who attend Dewan Rakyat physically are eligible for the allowance.
“Also, nearly all federal constituencies lie outside the Klang Valley. MPs travelling and staying in Kuala Lumpur during parliamentary sessions are also paid travel, accommodation and meal allowances. I think some of them want to know if they can still get it,” said the source.
‘Necessary but insensitive’
When contacted, a federal lawmaker, who will be joining the special session, said a discussion on allowances is necessary but insensitive at this juncture, seeing how badly the public is suffering under the double onslaught of the pandemic and economic slowdown.
Asking not to be named, the MP said it will not look so self-centred if Parliament has a full session as it can immediately debate more pressing national concerns – particularly the emergency, the pandemic, and the state of the economy.
“We do need to discuss virtual Parliament and how the allowances are going to be disbursed, I agree. But to do it without discussing the bigger national problems immediately, I think that’s disgusting.
“What’s the use of having a hybrid Parliament later when we can address these problems now? The country needs us to debate about the emergency, the pandemic, our economic plans, the National Recovery Plan, the vaccination drive... not just our allowance!” said the MP.
When asked who has the authority to sign off Dewan Rakyat debate motions to the cabinet for its perusal, the MP said that the office of the Dewan Rakyat speaker is responsible.
Earlier, The Vibes had reported that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim were summoned for an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to discuss the reopening of Parliament.
Both House leaders and their deputies are to meet the king today.
The Agong has been actively holding a slew of meetings at the national palace since June 9 where he saw the prime minister and all federal-level political party leaders and top civil servants, and conferred with his brother rulers on the emergency, Covid-19, the economy and Parliament’s reopening.
Following the emergency meeting of the Conference of Rulers on June 16, Istana Negara had issued a statement calling for the immediate opening of Parliament, which has been suspended under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration. – The Vibes, June 29, 2021
