MPs stand for freedom

MPs stand for freedom `Bring back Parliamentary Services Act' by B. Suresh Ram KUALA LUMPUR: In the name of greater parliamentary independence, Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle unanimously called for the re-enactment of the Parliamentary Services Act. They took the cue from Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad who called on his colleagues to stand up in unison to support the revival of the Act, which was repealed in 1992 on the Speaker's request. The Act basically provides for a civil service for Parliament and its own budget befitting its autonomy and independence. The 50-odd BN back benchers who were present got up on cue. Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and other opposition MPs, who were caught unawares, also stood up to support the move. "Whether it is early or late, and to enable it to be taken to the Executive for approval, today we should show that we, the MPs, are keen and want the Parliamentary Services Act to be revived," Shahrir declared when posing a supplementary question to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz during question time. "Can the minister talk to the Executive and let's not stretch the story longer than is necessary, and no need to refer to the House Committee. "I urge all my colleagues to stand in unison and show our support and that we want the Act to be revived." Hamid Albar, DeputyDatuk Seri Syed Foreign Minister Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mustapa Mohamed remained seated. Syed Hamid later told reporters he did not get up as he was, and still is, a member of the Executive and thus did not take part in supporting the move. However, he welcomed it. In the Dewan Rakyat, Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib told the members not to get too excited and asked them to sit. Shahrir said it is now the duty of the minister to submit to the cabinet the total support from MPs for the Act. Nazri said he would do so but asked that procedures be followed. "We should not speak with a forked tongue (bercakap dengan lidah bercabang). If we want to do this, we have to follow procedure. The house committee of both houses have to meet and submit to the Dewan Rakyat for it to be approved," he said. Nazri said there should not be doubts on the part of the Executive on the procedure involved in reviving the Act. "We do not want in another 20 years from now, an MP getting up and saying the (revival of the Act) was improper as the House Committee had not met on the matter. "A decision cannot be made during a question and answer session. I request that that decision not be put on my shoulders. "Instead the House Committee should meet and come to a decision and put forward a proposal to the government, and I will forward it to the Executive." Earlier in a supplementary question, Ahmad Shabery Cheek (BN-Kemaman) said the reason that was given for repealing the Act then, was that it would enhance the administration of the institution of Parliament. However, he said, apart from improvements to the floor, doors, ceiling, chairs, and now with a minister in charge, there has been no other improvement. "We cannot be proud of our library, we do not even have a Parliament shop. People who want to buy a legislative Act have to buy it at a shop outside. There is also no infor mation centre on Parliament." Nazri, whose announcement last week on the establishment of a department of Parliament set off a debate on the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature, in his reply, said the Act was promulgated in 1963 but repealed in 1992. "For nearly 30 years, it (the Act) was going well. I would like to clarify here that it was repealed not as a result of any suggestion made by the Executive," he said. Nazri said MPs could refer to the Hansard and the debate associated with the repeal. "The move to repeal the Act was made by the Speaker at that time (the late Tun Dr Zahir Mohd Ismail)," he said. Nazri said that when the Speaker, who represents the Legislature, wants to repeal the Act, the Executive will have to carry it out.