PETALING JAYA – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has doubled down on the importance of debating the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report as it involves public funds and not money belonging to “the parents of lawmakers”.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law and institutional reforms expressed her disbelief at and rejection of the opposition’s strong resistance to debating the report during parliamentary sessions, limiting it only to members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
During her winding-up speech, Azalina humorously stated: “We are debating for the betterment of the people because it is their funds, not our parents’,” questioning the opposition’s fear and resistance towards the debate.
She also pointed out that if it were not for the emergency declared then and the subsequent closure of Parliament, the report could have been debated in 2021.
Azalina urged lawmakers to voice the concerns and questions raised by their constituents instead of leaving the task solely to the two dozen PAC members.
She questioned whether it was justifiable to deny the voices of the people’s elected representatives and concentrate the power of debate on the fewer than 20 individuals who make up the committee.
Highlighting the parliamentary privileges granted under Article 63 of the federal constitution, Azalina asserted that MPs have the right to debate within the Dewan Rakyat.
Therefore, she argued against the opposition’s belief that Section 77 of the Standing Orders holds more debating power than elected lawmakers.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor chimed in, reminding everyone to exercise their privileges ethically.
Earlier today, the lower House witnessed a lengthy debate between government and opposition lawmakers regarding whether the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report should be discussed.
The disagreement led to all opposition MPs walking out of the session after Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul mandated that the report be openly debated in Parliament.
During the debate, DAP’s R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) urged the National Audit Department to investigate a 2004 award from the Japanese government to Putrajaya, which amounted to RM207 billion.
Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda) questioned the opposition’s boycott, emphasising that the report contained positive aspects amid leakages that needed improvement. – The Vibes, June 6, 2023
