KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 – Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia today urged members of parliament (MP) to inculcate the transformation culture to lift the status of parliament to a higher level.
Explaining the transformation culture, Pandikar Amin (photo) who was elected Speaker of Dewan Rakyat for the second time, said it means to change the attitude by doing good.
“I urge honourable members to make it a culture (transformation to do good) while on duty in parliament. Let us change, reform and transform. If not us who else? If not now when?
“Let us bring the Malaysian parliament to a higher level,” he said after his re-election as the Speaker in the first meeting of the first term of the 13th parliament which starts today.
In the election for Speaker, Pandikar Amin received 133 votes against opposition candidate, former federal court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, who received 89 votes.
In line with the changing times, the process and the meeting procedure of parliament would also change to a more mature democracy although it might take some time.
“The process of choosing the Speaker via election as we just saw is among the measures (mature democracy).”
Pandikar Amin said although there were other ways, it did not mean that the parliament meeting procedure was outdated or deviated from mature democracy. “Changes or amendments to the way we conduct the meeting will be made according to the needs and changing times.
“I hope that these changes will be followed by the creation of a shadow cabinet (the opposition) to facilitate the conduct of the debate.”
Pandikar Amin rebuked some opposition leaders for questioning the election of the Speaker this morning before the swearing-in ceremony of MPs.
“In accordance with Standing Order 52 (1), all honourable members are invited to elect the new Speaker of Dewan Rakyat for every new term,” he said supported by government backbenchers who thumped the tables in agreement.
-BERNAMA
