KUALA LUMPUR, July 21– The emergency Parliament session on Wednesday is believed to be the focus of all Malaysians who will certainly be affected by the tragedy that befell Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17, which was believed to have been shot down in Ukraine on Thursday.
Not only Malaysians, in fact the whole world slammed the violent and inhumane act that had killed 298 passengers and crew members of the flight comprising people of various nationalities.
A similar solidarity is believed to be demonstrated by the 222 members of the Dewan Rakyat to put aside political differences, and to show the solidarity of Malaysians in criticising the inhumane act on the ill-fated aircraft.
According to Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah, this was the first time that an emergency Parliamentary session was being called to discuss a humanitarian issue involving Malaysia, and the second time after the motion criticising the attacks of the Israeli Zionist Regime in Gaza held on Jan 12, 2009.
Roosme said all Members of Parliament had been informed of the emergency session via the various forms of communication. However, the Council had so far not received any official motion to be tabled by the government, he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his special message on the MH17 accident which was aired live on RTM1 Friday night, announced an emergency Parliamentary session to table a motion to criticise the inhumane act on the aircraft and to state the firm stand of Malaysians on the unfortunate tragedy.
Najib also hinted that three major motions would be debated including a demand on the relevant parties to ensure the safety of the rescue and investigating teams throughout their operations besides ensuring that the process of managing the victims proceeded smoothly.
He said the government had also urged the various parties to refrain from any act that would interfere and disturb the evidence at the scene of the incident. The government, he said, had urged the parties concerned to not disturb the evidence at the site of the incident so that investigative work could be carried out in a transparent and effective manner.
“Thirdly, if the investigation proves that the flight MH17 was shot down, Malaysia demands that the parties responsible would be brought to book immediately,” he said. Meanwhile, PAS Parliamentary chief whip, Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the party had directed all its MPs to be present.
“We hope to also contribute our views and opinion on the measures that should be taken,” he said. He hoped that the government would listen to the views of the MPs from the various party background who were believed to be keen to also share their opinion. In addition, PAS, he said, also welcomed the government’s decision to raise the flag at half-mast throughout the country.
DAP Member of Parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw said Malaysia must know the actual source of the tragedy and that an independent international investigation team must be allowed to make a detailed investigation without any restriction. The emergency parliamentary session will begin at 10am.
– BERNAMA
