80-day parliamentary sessions: Is skipping justifiable?

AWANG believes that Members of Parliament (MPs) should not be treated like schoolchildren, acknowledging that some MPs are occasionally absent from parliamentary sessions.

However, it is essential to differentiate between legitimate reasons for absence and willful non-attendance.

Ministers, for instance, have demanding daily duties to fulfill, and some MPs are actively involved in various parliamentary bodies.

Therefore, the recent proposal by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to publicly disclose the names of absentee MPs warrants careful consideration.

It is worth noting that absenteeism is often more prevalent among government members, and there are occasions when even ministers and deputy ministers are absent during debates.

Awang aligns with Subang MP Wong Chen's view that, given the limited 80-day annual parliamentary session, there should be no justification for MPs to skip sessions.

However, he also agrees with Mas Ermieyati from Masjid Tanah, who suggests that individuals like her should take turns chairing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meetings.

In conclusion, it appears that a balanced approach is necessary to address the matter of MP attendance, taking into account the varied roles and responsibilities of parliamentarians.