'Publishing names of absent MPs best solution to enhance attendance'

SHAH ALAM - Members of Parliament should not question the government's commitment to publishing the names of representatives who miss Dewan Rakyat sessions via the Parliament's website.

Subang MP Wong Chen stressed that all 222 Members of Parliament, elected by the people, must attend Dewan Rakyat sessions for approximately 70 to 80 days a year.

He highlighted that the number of parliamentary sessions in the country falls considerably below those of most other parliamentary democracies, such as the United Kingdom (over 150 days per year) and the United States (almost 160 days per year).

"In this country, parliamentary sessions are held for about 70 to 80 days per year.

"This number is much lower than in the majority of parliamentary democracies.

"So, with infrequent sessions, is it really that difficult for any Member of Parliament to attend the sessions?

"I firmly believe that publishing the names of Members of Parliament who miss sessions is the best solution to enhance the transparency and public accountability of Parliament," he told Sinar yesterday.

Last week, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul explained that the suggestion to publish the names of MPs who miss Dewan Rakyat sessions is aimed at informing the public about each Member of Parliament's commitment to their duties.

Johari noted that this is one of the improvements to be implemented to enhance the attendance of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

He also said that the proposal would be discussed with the parliamentary committee, which includes opposition representatives.

On this, Wong Chen stressed that if the culture of parliamentary absenteeism is not seriously addressed, it could negatively impact the government's efforts to implement various administrative reforms.

"The people also have the right to know whether their chosen representatives are genuinely fulfilling their duties in Parliament or not.

"I also suggest that Parliament not only publish the list of MPs who miss sessions but also disclose the names of those who are present for public knowledge," the Pakatan Harapan (PH) MP said.

However, another PH MP, Azli Yusof, had a different view, stating that implementing Johari's suggestion was more complex than it may seem, especially in providing the actual reasons for a particular Member of Parliament's absence.

He pointed out that for ministers or deputy ministers, they have genuine duties and need to attend Parliament sessions alternately.

"If the proposal to publish the names of MPs who miss sessions is enforced, there is a concern that their absence could be misinterpreted.

"Generally, the public can find out the attendance of MPs in any Parliament session through live broadcasts by the Parliament aired via government media stations and the Parliament's social media platforms.

"At the end of the session, there is always someone who compiles and publishes the attendance of all MPs, taken from the hansard.

"So, I don't see it as a significant issue," he said.