[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Kami, selaku kumpulan masyarakat madani yang menandatangani kenyataan ini, memandang serius kegagalan forum untuk dipenuhi ketika sesi sebelah petang persidangan Dewan Rakyat pada 21 September 2021.

Situasi ini menyebabkan persidangan terpaksa ditempohkan sementara waktu untuk memanggil ahli Parlimen masuk ke Dewan demi mencukupkan kuorum sekurang-kurangnya 26 orang (12%) bagi menyambung persidangan.

Kami membidas insiden yang memalukan dengan 201 (91%) ahli Parlimen telah ponteng sidang dan boleh dianggap sebagai menghina Dewan yang mulia serta mencemarkan imej selaku wakil rakyat yang memikul amanah berat daripada rakyat. Sikap acuh tidak acuh ini mencerminkan ketidakseriusan para ahli Parlimen tidak kira di pihak kerajaan mahupun pembangkang dalam menjalankan tanggungjawab, menjaga disiplin dan amanah ketika sesi persidangan Parlimen masih berjalan.

Kami kecewa dan mempersoal apakah laungan untuk buka Parlimen sebelum ini ketika darurat oleh sebahagian besar ahli Parlimen khususnya di pihak pembangkang dan Umno, hanya sekadar retorik dan halwa telinga? Ini juga seolah-olah memperlekehkan Memorandum Persefahaman transformasi dan lestabilan politik yang ditandatangani antara kerajaan Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional-Gabungan Parti Sarawak-Parti Bersatu Sabah dan pembangkang rasmi Pakatan Harapan yang melaung-laungkan reformasi parlimen.

Sekalipun tidak mungkin semua ahli Parlimen berada dalam Dewan setiap masa, memalukan sekali apabila kuorum serendah 26 ahli, yang kurang daripada jumlah ahli Parlimen bagi mana-mana gabungan PH (90), PN (54) dan BN (42) dan parti DAP (42), Umno (38), PKR (35), dan Bersatu (31), pun tidak dapat dipenuhi.

Ketua whip parti untuk gabungan PH, PN dan BN dan parti DAP, Umno, PKR, dan Bersatu perlu memohon maaf terbuka dan tanpa syarat kepada rakyat Malaysia atas sikap tidak bersyukur dan kegagalan gabungan atau parti mereka memastikan Parlimen dapat berjalan setelah diberi amanah dengan memenangi lebih kerusi daripada kuorum di Parlimen.

Justeru, kami mendesak ketua parti, gabungan dan setiap ahli Parlimen yang mewakili suara rakyat di Dewan Rakyat supaya memastikan wujudnya penyelarasan dalaman dan antara parti atau gabungan yang boleh menjamin:

• Kehadiran sekurang-kurangnya 50% ahli pada bila-bila masa semasa persidangan
• Kehadiran sekurang-kurangnya 50% hari persidangan bagi setiap ahli Parlimen
• Tidak lagi sekalipun gagal mencapai kuorum 26 orang ahli pada setiap sesi persidangan

Kami dan seluruh rakyat Malaysia menaruh harapan tinggi agar semua ahli Parlimen sedar akan tanggungjawab dan amanah yang mereka pikul selaku wakil kepada suara rakyat. Telah ramai yang memperjuangkan agar Parlimen dapat bersidang semula maka manfaatkanlah sesi Parlimen kali ini seoptimum mungkin untuk membawa isu rakyat dan negara demi kemaslahatan ekonomi dan kehidupan rakyat terbanyak, lebih-lebih lagi di kala pandemik Covid belum reda kini.

Kenyataan ini adalah inisiatif Komuniti Perintis untuk Parlimen Profesional, sebuah jaringan individu yang aktif dalam kumpulan masyarakat madani, badan pemikir dan akademia yang memperjuangkan sebuah Parlimen yang profesional bagi mewujudkan persaingan dasar yang sihat antara pelbagai parti.

Ditandatangani oleh:

• Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0)
• Engage
• Institute for Political Reform and Democracy (Reform)
• Persatuan Pengundi Muda (Undi18)
• Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas)
• Bait Al-Amanah

English

The people expect MPs to attend Parliament

We, the undersigned civil society groups, take seriously the failure to achieve a quorum for the afternoon session of the Dewan Rakyat on 21 September 2021.

This situation caused the sitting to be temporarily postponed so that MPs could enter the House to meet the quorum of at least 26 members (12%).

We condemn the embarrassing incident with 201 (91%) MPs skipping the session – an act tantamount to an insult to the august House and which tarnishes the image of elected representatives who are entrusted by the rakyat. This indifference reflects the lack of seriousness of MPs whether on the part of the government or the opposition in carrying out their responsibilities, maintaining discipline and upholding the trust given by the rakyat while the Parliamentary session is ongoing.

We are disappointed and question whether the clamour to reopen Parliament previously during the emergency by most MPs, especially in the opposition and Umno was just rhetoric and lip service? This also seems to make a mockery of the Memorandum of Understanding on transformation and political stability, which includes parliamentary reforms, signed between the Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional-Gabungan Parti Sarawak-Parti Bersatu Sabah government and the official Pakatan Harapan opposition.

Although it is not possible for all MPs to be in the House at all times, it is a shame when the quorum is as low as 26 members – which is less than the number of MPs for any combination of PH (90), PN (54), BN (42) and DAP party (42), Umno (38), PKR (35), and Bersatu (31) – could not be met. The party chief whip for the PH, PN, BN coalition and the DAP, Umno, PKR, and Bersatu parties, must openly and unconditionally apologise to Malaysians for their lack of appreciation and the failure of their coalition or parties to ensure that Parliament can convene smoothly after being entrusted with more seats than the quorum of Parliament.

Therefore, we urge party leaders, coalitions and every MP who represents the voice of the people in the Dewan Rakyat to ensure that there is internal and inter-party or coalition coordination that will guarantee:

• Attendance of at least 50% of members at any time during the sitting
• Attendance of at least 50% of the sitting days for each MP
• No more failure in reaching the quorum of 26 members at each sitting

We and all Malaysians hope all MPs are aware of the responsibilities and trust that they carry as representatives of the people. Many have fought for Parliament to reconvene; therefore MPs should make the most of the parliamentary sittings to put forward the issues of the people and the country in the interest of economy recovery and the betterment of the livelihoods of the people, especially when the Covid pandemic has not yet subsided.

This statement is initiated by the Seed Community for a Professional Parliament, a network of individuals active in civil society organisations, think tanks and academia working towards a professional Parliament that facilitates healthy policy competition between parties.

Signed by:

• Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih 2.0)
• Engage
• Institute for Political Reform and Democracy (Reform)
• Persatuan Pengundi Muda (Undi18)
• Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas)
• Bait Al-Amanah

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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