Disappointed over shortened Parliament session.
It will be the end of democracy in Malaysia if elected representatives are not allowed to speak in Parliament, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad today after its shortest sitting ever.
“We cannot accept that due to the pandemic, the sitting can only be held for a day. In Sabah, they managed to do it for three days and how many had fallen sick?” he said in jest while looking at Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who smiled back.
Dr Mahathir expressed his disappointment that the sitting was limited to the decree by Agong, with no room for debates.
“Even if the meeting was for a full day, it would not be a problem,” said the 94-year-old Bersatu chairman and former prime minister at a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.
If people are allowed to work, dine and shop under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), surely it must be safe for MPs to sit and debate, he added.
“Parliament is the place to talk (gedung cakap), but we are not allowed to talk.
“It spells the end of democracy if we cannot speak as representatives of the people,” he said.
Dr Mahathir congratulated Parliamentary Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and his staff for their efforts in handling the sitting and movements of the MPs.
He began his press conference by praising the strict precautionary Covid-19 measures taken by Parliament where body temperatures were checked, MPs were required to wash their hands twice and seating was arranged a chair apart from each other.