KUALA LUMPUR: It is normal that in any parliamentary select committee (PSC) initiated by the government, the majority of its members are from the ruling party, said Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said that was consistent with the practice of many parliaments, even in the United Kingdom where the PSC consisted of mostly members from the ruling party when issues involved were matters of public interest.
“This is consistent with the practice of parliament everywhere when matters of public interest are involved. If you ask me, this is a big number, given the fact that the opposition was given three and independent one. Five from BN (Barisan Nasional). It is fair and just,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz announced that the electoral reform select committee would comprise nine members of Parliament — five from Barisan Nasional, three from the Opposition and an independent with the committee itself to be chaired by a cabinet minister.
Wan Junaidi said it was only right for government to set up the committee because there was no standing committee to deal with the matter.
“Currently, we only have five standing committees or permanent select committees namely —Selection Committee, which is the mother of the of all standing select committees, Public Accounts Committee, Standing Orders Committee, House Committee and Committee of Privileges.
“That’s why the government initiated a special Select Committee. By tradition and precedence, it is always led by the government. However, what is most important is that when the panel has its deliberation, it is no longer under guidance of any government or anybody except parliament itself,” he said.
A select committee is a special sub-committee of a legislature or assembly governed under a committee system and often investigative in nature, collecting data or evidence for a law or problem, and will dissolve immediately after it reports its findings.
These are very common in government legislatures, and are used to solve special problems.
“While being independent, it can seek advise based on committee decision from anybody, including the Attorney-General (AG) and the Election Commission (EC). In this case, it can seek advice from the AG or EC but the decision will remain with the panel and cannot be persuaded by anybody else,” he said.
Wan Junaidi also said the special select committee had the right and privileges as a committee of parliament and it could decide on opening for inputs from members of the public.
“I hope the committee will not only make deliberations in Kuala Lumpur but also in other parts of the country such as in Sabah and Sarawak so that they can hear from all segments of the public. —Bernama