Putrajaya welcomes Pandikar’s reforms, says Azalina

The government has welcomed the proposal by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia today to hold the ministers' question time every Tuesday and Thursday during Parliament sittings. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, who is in charge of parliamentary matters, said the move would give more room for members of Dewan Rakyat and the Senate to debate and to provide them a platform to ask the ministers directly on current issues. "The government welcomes the statement and is committed to the successful implementation of Parliament's transformation. "The government also thanks the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for clarifying to the media on any misunderstanding that the executive was interfering into the affairs of the legislature," she said in a statement today. Azalina said the government has studied the proposals to transform Parliament and agreed to three of four proposals at the Cabinet meeting on January 20. Azalina also said that she and Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee held a two-day official visit to Australia on February 22 and 23 to study the implementation of select committees. She also stressed that the government did not intend to interfere with the powers of the speaker and would help ease the transformation process of Parliament. Pandikar, announcing the proposal today, said the move allowed members to ask questions on current issues. – Bernama, March 9, 2016.]]>