KUALA LUMPUR – All lawmakers have the liberty to voice their thoughts on the Fixed Term Parliamentary Act (FTPA) regardless of their political affiliations, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
While winding up the royal address for her ministry, Azalina (Pengerang-BN) underscored the importance of discussing the FTPA as part of political transparency, allowing parties to articulate their objectives and direction.
“We are not a communist government, where all lawmakers must agree to all we do – no (it is not like that.
“We allow all MPs, whether (from the) government, opposition, or independent (blocs) to express their thoughts,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Azalina highlighted the necessity of a stable administration for implementing the FTPA, noting that frequent changes in government hinder its proposal and execution.
She added that such circumstances require time to implement, and the government is not running away from its responsibilities.
Azalina was responding to a supplementary question from DAP’s R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH), who asked when the government would announce any updates on the proposed FTPA.
She emphasised Malaysia’s unique constitutional monarchy system compared to other nations with the Westminster parliamentary model, which influences the need for fixed-term laws.
While Malaysia has written constitutions, the other nations – such as Western countries, including England – do not, which is why they require fixed-term laws.
Earlier this month, Azalina said the proposed FTPA was still in the in-depth study stage, which included an impact study that noted the views expressed during engagement sessions with stakeholders and the public.
She added that various nations practise fixed-term parliaments with agreed timelines for elections, which ensures all reform agendas can be implemented without interruption. – March 14, 2024