Anwar committed to Parliament reform

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Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who returned to the Dewan Rakyat after a hiatus since 2015, is determined to improve and strengthen the position of the Parliament.

The Port Dickson MP said his focus included implementing several select committees in line with the Pakatan Harapan manifesto in the 14th General Election (GE14).

“Priority would be to assist the government by implementing part of our manifesto that is parliamentary reform, our parliament in the past has been considered as a rubber stamp, MPs would debate and endorse whatever has been decided (by the Government).

“The new approach is to ensure the Parliament is more effective through the formation of select committees or various other discussions prior to debates, prior to the tabling of laws and this, of course, is going to be discussed. It must be endorsed by the Cabinet,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, today.

Anwar also insisted that he would not be joining Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet.

“I also will not become a backbencher, as a supporter, my work will be more relaxed, I can say anything I want. A formal position would constrain me,” he said.

Anwar was sworn in as an MP today in front of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

He won the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election on Saturday with a huge majority of 23,560 votes, defeating six other candidates. – Bernama