Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said there is no need to accord new Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim any 'special treatment', among other round-ups from the House today.
Minister defends no live-telecast decision
Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek has defended state-owned television station RTM’s decision not to broadcast Anwar Ibrahim’s swearing-in ceremony as the new Permatang Pauh MP today.
RTM, which began to telecast the first 30 minutes of parliamentary proceedings live since the first Parliament session in April, chose not to broadcast Anwar’s swearing-in and started broadcasting after the ceremony.
“Why must we provide special treatment for just one MP? When 222 MPs were sworn in, there was no live telecast, so why must we break the tradition now?” he said.
He added that the live telecast also usually starts with the oral question session and for instance, the prayer recitals at the onset of the sitting will not be broadcasted.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz argued that the live telecast was only meant to broadcast the oral question session and it does not matter when the session starts.
Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) criticised Shabery for indulging in such “petty and puerile” behaviour to veto RTM from proceeding the live telecast of Anwar’s swearing-in.
'No' to select committee
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar shot down the idea of setting up a parliamentary select committee to study the controversial DNA Identification Bill.
The minister told reporters that he personally felt that it was unnecessary to have the committee as the bill is already being debated in the House.
He was however quick to add that the final say should be left to the House.“Usually a select committee is brought before the debate…That’s the procedure, while in this case there has been so much discussion already.
“Almost every member of the opposition has cross-examined it… so the debate was intense – and most of the opposition MPs (who questioned the bill) were actually lawyers and they spoke from an advocate’s point of view,” he said.
“We have done a lot of work and it is not slipshod work – we have done surveys and examination of other countries and we think it is good to have a law in place… we should move on from here rather then delaying it again,” he added.
Ong welcomes ACA's move
Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat voiced support and welcomed the Anti-Corruption Agency’s (ACA) move in arresting 28 officials of the vehicle inspection specialist, Puspakom.
Ong, whose jurisdiction includes overseeing Puspakom, said he wants the ACA to probe other agencies under his ministry in order to “clean up” the units.
The 28 Puspakom officials were out of 55 individuals arrested by the ACA yesterday for approving vehicles without adhering to proper operating procedures and approvals.
news n photo courtesy of Malaysiakini
1 comment:
Ahmad Shabery,
If you don't telecasted your nuts UMNO MP live it will be ok. For Dsai is different he our Malaysia next PM to be. You shouldn't be jealous of him. You know him better, the other day on tv you votmited foam when debate with him
Post a Comment