Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin delivering his special address today accompanied by several other ministers. – Bernama photo
KUCHING (Aug 13): The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will table bills in Dewan Rakyat to limit the premiership tenure to two terms and stop elected representatives from party-hopping.
Muhyiddin, in a special address today, said the government of the day would need at least two-thirds majority support from its MPs in order to make the prime minister’s limited tenure and anti party-hopping law into a reality.
“This can be done as long as the government can garner bi-partisan support in Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara by having the two-thirds majority of votes to pass those bills, to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat, into laws,” he said.
Muhyiddin said his administration would work on parliamentary reforms to ensure that all MPs, be they from the ruling or opposition coalition, could sit on all Parliamentary Select Committees (PSC).
He said the number of PSC can be increased to make sure that all MPs have an extensive role to play so as to ensure check-and-balance of the Dewan Rakyat.
“To have check-and-balance, the PSC should be represented by both ruling and opposition MPs, 50 per cent each. This will enhance the role and efficiency of MPs in discharging their duties.
“The government will also line up supporting staff and appropriate remuneration for all MPs involved in the PSC,” he added.
He said the government of the day had also agreed to implement Undi 18 – lowering the voting age to 18, without further delay.
He said this Undi 18 cannot wait to be implemented concurrently with the automatic voters’ registration, which will take a much longer time to become a reality.
“With regard to this, an amendment to the Federal Constitution will be tabled and debated in Parliament. I hope in the spirit of bi-partisan, this amendment bill can be passed,” he added.
Muhyiddin said before a bill including the Supply Bill is passed in Parliament, all MPs will be consulted.
He said only bills that had the majority support of all MPs will be tabled in Parliament.
“For the opposition coalition which holds nearly the same number of parliamentary seats that the ruling coalition does in Dewan Rakyat, the opposition leader will be provided remuneration and access equivalently enjoyed by a senior minister,” he added.