PKR urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to implement the parliamentary reforms promised by his predecessor if he was sincere in getting everyone involved in nation building.
“I urge the prime minister to include the seven Parliamentary reforms and new comprehensive strategy to contain COVID-19 as agreed by the Cabinet-led by former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug 13.
“Please include them in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting for deliberation. Prove to the people that the new administration puts the people’s wellbeing above everything else,” PKR Women’s Wing communication director Loh Ker Chean said.
Before Muhyiddin got ousted from power, he offered to implement a series of reforms in order to entice Pakatan Harapan leaders to support his tenure as prime minister.
Among the offer made was to ensure all MPs receive the same annual allocation regardless of political affiliation, limit the tenure of the prime minister to two-terms and enact anti-party hopping law.
In terms of COVID-19, Muhyiddin promised to raise the COVID-19 Fund ceiling by another RM45 bil, from the RM65 bil approved last year, to RM110 bil.
However, Pakatan shot down Muhyiddin proposals. When Ismail Sabri ascended the premiership, he offered the Opposition bloc seats at the COVID-19 Task Force and National Recovery Plan (NRP) committee.
Details please, Mr PM
Touching on the matter, Loh said that it was only proper for Ismail Sabri to follow through Muhyiddin’s proposals as he was serving as the latter deputy, when the Cabinet agreed to the ideas.
She added that by implementing the reforms, it would show the people that his offer was genuine and not merely paying lip service.
“By right, Ismail Sabri should have made details on the COVID-19 Task Force and NRP offer available within 24 hours of his announcement.
“Critical information such as its terms of reference (TOR) comprising objectives and organisational structure and the Opposition’s role are still lacking as of now.
“It will be highly irresponsible of our prime minister to make such important announcement through the media without proper follow up. It will only frustrate the people further, who are getting weary of COVID-19 and the economic malaise triggered by it,” Loh concluded.
On related matter, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan concurred with Loh’s sentiments, adding the proposals were outlined in Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto and the Opposition would not have much issues supporting it.
“Technically speaking, we still have the same Perikatan Nasional Government, albeit the change in prime minister.
“But the issue with Perikatan, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan is all of them either benefitted or got victimised by the lack of reforms. So, I feel we should at least get the anti-party hopping law enacted.
“This is paramount so that the rakyat’s vote is not taken for granted,” he told FocusM.
Arutchelvan remarked: “Having said that, I also urge the Government to establish the Independent Police Complaints & Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and the royal commission of inquiry on the judiciary.
“These two matters are long overdue and vital if we want to reform and revitalise the institutions critical to our parliamentary democracy system.” – Aug 24, 2021.
