By William Leong
ARTICLE 43(3) of the Federal Parliament states that the Cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament. An important mechanism in which Parliament holds the Cabinet accountable is by way of parliamentary questions.
The Prime Minister’s decision not to allow debate and question time for the Parliament meeting on Monday (May 18) 2020 must not deter Members of Parliament from carrying out their duties.
Parliament is not the building. Article 44 states Parliament consists of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the 70 Senators forming the Dewan Negara (the Senate) and the 222 Members of Parliament forming the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).
A responsible Prime Minister and Cabinet would answer questions by Members of Parliament whether inside or outside of the Parliament building.
In the discharge of my duty I submit before the people of Malaysia, my parliamentary question for the Prime Minister to answer by issuing a public statement.
The question is: William Leong Jee Keen (Member of Parliament for Selayang) asks the Prime Minister to answer by way of a public statement: whether the Prime Minister approves of the plea bargain deal for the discharge not amounting to acquittal of Riza Abdul Aziz of money laundering charges involving US$248 mil (RM1.08 bil) linked to 1MDB funds by returning only US$107.3 mil (RM465.3 mil).
By way of supplementary question, I ask the Prime Minister to state in the same public statement in reply, whether the Prime Minister will approve similar plea bargain deals for the discharge of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and other senior politicians who are facing various criminal charges involving billions of Ringgit.
It is requested that the Prime Minister and the Cabinet fulfill their constitutional obligations by providing a full and frank answer that addresses the people’s concerns.
The people are concerned whether justice will be obtained and the rule of law adhered to by the Perikatan Nasional government in respect of these massive corruption, money-laundering and abuse of power cases involving billions of ringgit of the people’s money.
Covid-19 and the MCO do not prevent these questions being answered.
William Leong Jee Keen is Member of Parliament for Selayang
