6 April 2020
Press statement by MCA International Communication & Diplomacy Bureau Chairperson Dr Tee Ching Seng
Unwise decision to call for Parliament meet in heat of Covid-19 global crisis
Many leaders from Pakatan Harapan have called for a Parliament session in the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic. Is this really the right call when breaking the chain of transmission is of utmost importance?
Nations worldwide are already having trouble keeping themselves afloat in this crisis. Let us all be rational and also consider the risks involved in any actions taken. We cannot afford to allow politicking to further sink this ship that we are all a passenger of.
In contrast, it can be argued that the times when Members of the Parliament (MP) should also be as passionate about the country, they were unavailable.
(The Dewan Rakyat has 222 MPs and the quorum is at least 26 persons)
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Date
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Event
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24-7-2018
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Dewan Rakyat was delayed by 2 minutes due to lack of quorum; after a 2-minute bell, MPs gradually returned to the hall, and the session continued with a total of 36 MPs.
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25-7-2018
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Former Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said that the Pakatan Harapan government will expedite the appointment of a backbencher leader to ensure the quorum will be met at all times.
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23-10-2018
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Dato’ Sri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak was speaking in Parliament, but PH Ministers and their Deputies were absent.
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24-10-2018
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Lim Kit Siang pokes fun at Najib for speaking to thin air, asking: Is this God’s proclamation?
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17-10-2019
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Dewan Rakyat continues debate on Budget 2020: the number of empty PH seats barely fulfills quorum.
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22-10-2019
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Former Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong revealed that PH shall be handing out a roster on the next day, to ensure that PH MPs attend Parliament sittings accordingly to ensure quorum is met.
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23-10-2019
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Again, almost a lack of quorum in the Parliament.
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20-11-2019
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PKR Subang Jaya MP Wong Chen posted on Facebook, 10am on the previous day, only 1 Minister, 1 Deputy, and 23 MPs were present, unable to fulfill quorum.
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21-11-2019
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Tun Dr Mahathir admits and reprimands PH MPs over low rates of attendance.
He said, ““They (PH MPs) were very anxious to be candidates for election but after having been elected, they are not behaving as if they are serious about serving the people.”
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26-11-2019
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When the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s Budget was being debated, 29 Cabinet Ministers were absent.
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27-11-2019
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Liew Vui Keong makes excuses for absentees, including: The Parliament Hall too cold, Opposition too rowdy; Deputy Minister of Defence Liew Chin Tong says MPs are too tired.
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As the number of Covid-19 cases exceeds 3,000, Malaysians nationwide have been told to stay at home to break the chain of transmission. Moreover, with the second phase of the Movement Control Order in effect, the Health Director General Dato’ Dr Noor Hisham has made it clear: the following 2 weeks will be critical in the fight against Covid-19.
This is not a time for politicking, or to gain cheap publicity. The country’s fate hangs in the balance as the people’s daily lives have already been severely impacted as is. If PH truly cares for the people, be present in your actions, not in making big promises of integrity and fairness.
Dr Tee Ching Seng
MCA International Communication & Diplomacy Bureau Chairperson
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