PETALING JAYA: Klang MP Charles Santiago has been told that he will not get answers to his Parliamentary questions as the Dewan Rakyat remains suspended until the emergency is lifted.
In a reply to his request for Parliament to forward his questions to the ministries concerned, an official said that, in accordance with the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) 2021, parliament cannot hold any sitting.
“As such, your questions cannot be answered,” Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin told the MP.
In a letter on Feb 8, Santiago had listed five questions asking Parliament to forward them to the ministers concerned. He said that despite the emergency, MPs must continue doing their duties by representing their voters.
Santiago said he was disappointed that the house could not help by forwarding the questions as this was important for his voters.
“I am particularly upset because all the questions were about resolving the Covid-19 pandemic. And new ideas were posed as questions for the government to consider.
“It’s unfortunate that the Speaker does not think it is important to get ministers to reply. Indirectly, the Speaker’s response suggests that Parliament for all intents and purposes has been suspended,” he said in response to the reply from Parliament.
Santiago said parliamentary standing orders should be waived for this purpose, adding the speaker has some powers vested in him.
“After all, the staff are not doing much as there will be no sitting until Aug 1, or even later if the Perikatan Nasional government decides to extend the emergency,” he said.
In urging the administrators to think outside the box, he urged the Speaker and the minister in charge of parliament to devise a procedure for MP’s who wish to ask questions that they would have asked if there was a sitting.
“Let us all join hands and keep democracy alive. As explained by the prime minister, the emergency is for Covid-19 and not to kill democracy. I hope those concerned will work out a system for MPs to perform this duty,” he said.- FMT