KOTA KINABALU: Members of Parliament from Parti Warisan Sabah are urging for a full parliamentary sitting to be held instead of a hybrid one.

       In a joint statement, the eight MPs said that a hybrid parliament coupled with the short period of time allocated from July 29 to Aug 2 would not allow all the MPs to voice out their concerns and issues of the nation, especially on Covid-19 management.

       Party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said they felt that the scheduled three-day Dewan Rakyat sitting from Aug 3 to Aug 5 was insufficient for a full and meaningful debate.

       He said there were several ordinances promulgated by the Perikatan Nasional government during this Emergency which have to be laid before the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara as required under the Federal Constitution.

       “There are a total of 220 existing members in the Dewan Rakyat and 70 members in the Dewan Negara, with such limited times allotted to both houses of Parliament to deal with and to debate on these seven Promulgated Ordinances to be made valid laws,” he said.

       Shafie said it was irresponsible to expect to pass these ordinances as good laws without any debate or questions.

       He said the people have the right to know how Covid-19 was actually managed and to get their questions answered.

       The people also have the right to know how the funds allotted by the government during this Emergency period of the approved budget was spent or disbursed, he added.

       Shafie said the government, as well as MPs, owe it to the people for answers as many were suffering due to the pandemic, job losses and illness.

       There should therefore be a normal sitting of Parliament as all MPs had been fully vaccinated and there is sufficient social distancing in the sitting arrangements to allow all members to be present at the same time, he said.

       “It is indisputable that it is only through the participation of Members of Parliament that Parliament can act as a proper check and balance on government actions and to ensure good governance,” he said.

       Shafie proposed a form of systematic monitoring that enables every MP and their accompanying officers to be checked and to make it compulsory for every one of them to provide a digital vaccination certification as proof prior to entering the parliament building.

       This is a preventive measure to avoid Covid-19 cases from occurring in Parliament, he said.

       “We therefore demand that when it is reconvened, that Parliament is restored to its original status and position as an important role and foundation or cornerstone of our Parliamentary Democracy as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he added.

       Those who were involved in issuing this joint statement are Penampang MP Datuk Darell Leiking, Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli, Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud), Sepanggar’s Datuk Azis Jamman, Ahmad Hassan (Papar), Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi (Lahad Datu), Ma'mun Sulaiman of Kalabakan, as well as Senator Datuk Douglas Lind.