KUALA LUMPUR – An opposition lawmaker has proposed for an amendment to be made to the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat to give proper, greater recognition to the opposition leader.
Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) said this should be one of several parliamentary reforms that should be given consideration by the federal government.
“This (recognition of opposition leader) must be included in the Standing Orders,” he briefly said during Khairil Nizam Khirudin’s (Jerantut-PN) debate on the royal address in Parliament here today.
“It shouldn’t merely be at the mercy of the prime minister or through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), but should be a condition in parliamentary reform.”
The Bersatu lawmaker, however, did not elaborate on what form of recognition and additional benefits should be given to the opposition leader.
On a similar note, Ronald said opposition MPs should also not be required to sign MoUs to obtain equal constituency funding as their government peers, insisting instead that this be made into law.
“If we can amend the constitution to include a condition on equal funding for all MPs, that can be part of the reform.”
Previously under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration, the then prime minister had inked an MoU with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to grant the opposition leader “appropriate” rights and amenities and equal funding to opposition MPs.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also given a “promotion letter” granting him minister-level status and amenities to the office of opposition leader.
The current opposition leader is Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Later, Khairil Nizam said he agreed with the proposal by Ronald as this is in line with his view that all MPs should be treated equally. – The Vibes, February 20, 2022
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