Backbencher MPs are advised to join the parliamentary select committee

KUALA LUMPUR - All members of parliament who do not hold executive positions (backbenchers) are advised to join the Parliamentary Select Committee for the First Meeting of the Second Session of the 15th Parliament on Monday.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul said the august house is ready to add up to 13 positions to ensure that all parliamentarians, including the opposition play a role in the committee.

Johari said the committee will have a meeting on the first day of the session to discuss new membership.

"I want 'backbencher' parliament members, whether they are from government or opposition side, to join these select committees where everyone will have their roles.

"We will discuss it this month, the number will increase to 13 compared to the previous 10 select committees. They will be provided staff and allocation for each special committee (and) each committee may (comprised of) eight to 10 members, excluding the executive.

"Parliament members should excel and not complain about insufficient time to debate in the Dewan Rakyat because they have to perform in these committee," he said after his meeting with members of the media at the Parliament Building today.

In the previous Parliament session, there were only 10 Select Committees of Parliament including the Select Committee on Education and the Select Committee on Women and Children's Affairs.

Johari also informed that for any member of parliament who broke any rules, including making sexist statements during the session, will risk facing a penalty of up to RM10,000.

He stressed that the penalty can be executed through the set of rules that are currently being formulated.

"I have discussed this with the Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara Tan Sri Rais Yatim for us to sit down and draft a clear rule.

"Through the Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act, the penalty is only RM1,000 and perhaps we can make it go up to RM10,000, we are not sure," he said.

Previously, the media reported that Johari wanted to implement several reforms to empower Parliament, including imposing stricter measures against Parliament members who made racist, insulting and gender-discriminatory statements.