'Deduct salary, monthly allowances for MPs absent in Parliament'
SHAH ALAM - Deduction of salary and monthly allowances must be made to MPs who are absent from any Dewan Rakyat sitting without any emergency, health or important matters.
This was important to provide awareness for the representatives and to increase their attendance in Parliament sittings other than to display their names as absent on the Dewan Rakyat website.
Former Malaysian Representatives Council (Mubarak) president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman said the names and reasons for their absence would also be displayed to the mass media so the public would know the performance of the representatives they chose.
He said there were no exceptions and leniency for unimportant reasons as the Parliament sitting was part of their duties and responsibilities as MPs.
"I support the suggestion to display the names of those absent from the Dewan Rakyat sitting fully. The reasoning for their absence should be displayed as it was the public's right to know.
"The committee responsible for the attendance matter must make a strict decision to take action.
"If necessary, deduct wages and other monthly allowances, not only the allowance for attending Parliament.
"Actions should also be taken towards MPs who recorded their attendance then chose to be absent in Parliament," he said.
Aziz said the tasks of representatives in an area were not counted in time, but the Parliament had a time set and should be adhered to.
He said in the current dynamic political situation, it was important for all MPs to play a professional role in Parliament, not only voicing for the sake of standing out for their own political importance.
"If t the representatives did not play a role to interrupt the changes happening in the political landscape, there's no defence for their voters.
"Because of that, they must be active as changes are significant from economic, geopolitical and other standpoints.
"We want representatives that choose to play a role to highlight the views and remarks that are constructive and positive," he said.
Meanwhile, Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the methods of displaying the MPs found absent in Parliament on the website must be explained.
He said there must be a procedure or reasonable excuse brought up by the MP when the Dewan Rakyat wanted to display the names of those absent.
"I agree with this matter, but in the government party, there are ministers or deputy ministers. They will surely have many matters to attend to and may not be able to attend in Parliament.
"With the executive task of MPs, they may not have the chance to attend Parliament in the morning. However, currently what I see is that they were present in Parliament," he said after officiating the Deepavali Donation Presentation Ceremony to the Indian community at the Titiwangsa Parliament here on Sunday.
Johari added it was the responsibility of all MPs to attend the sitting.
"However, if they have tasks on the day, it must be informed to the Speaker whether they were outstation or any other important matters involving the country's management.
